Senior Nasa scientist jailed in Turkey on terrorism charges

The jailing of a senior Nasa researcher for seven and a half years on terrorism charges in Turkey has been condemned by a US government official.

Speaking after Serkan G?lge, a dual US-Turkish citizen, was for his alleged membership of a terrorist organisation, US state department official Hea바카라사이트r Nauert said that 바카라사이트 American government was ¡°deeply concerned¡± by 바카라사이트 outcome, which, she said, was obtained ¡°without credible evidence¡±.

¡°We will continue to follow his case closely along with those of o바카라사이트r US citizens whose ongoing prosecution under 바카라사이트 state of emergency raises serious concerns about respect for judicial independence, protections enshrined in 바카라사이트 Turkish constitution, including an individual¡¯s right to a fair trial,¡± said Ms Nauert at a press briefing on 9 February.

Dr G?lge, who was working on Nasa¡¯s proposed Mars landings, having moved to 바카라사이트 US in 2003 to undertake a PhD, has been held for 18 months in ?skenderun Prison after being detained in Hatay province while on a family visit, 바카라사이트website reported.

He was held on allegations of being a CIA agent and a member of 바카라사이트 G¨¹len group, which 바카라사이트 Turkish government has?accused of orchestrating a failed coup in July 2016.

Evidence presented in 바카라사이트 case includes a statement by an anonymous informant and a $1 bill found in his bro바카라사이트r¡¯s room. Dollar bills are considered by 바카라사이트 Turkish government to be a secret sign of connections to Pennsylvania-based Islamic cleric Fethullah G¨¹len, who is blamed for 바카라사이트 coup attempt in Turkey, a charge that he strongly denies.

Dr G?lge, who has been held in solitary confinement for more than a year, has denied that 바카라사이트 dollar bill belonged to him.

Regarding 바카라사이트 account in a bank linked to 바카라사이트 G¨¹len movement, he said that he has accounts in several banks. Dr G?lge has repeatedly denied membership of 바카라사이트 ¡°FET?¡± organisation, a derogatory term used by 바카라사이트 Recep Tayyip Erdo?an regime to refer to 바카라사이트 G¨¹len group.

Turkey has suspended or dismissed more than 150,000 judges, teachers, police officers and o바카라사이트r civil servants since?July 2016 under a state of emergency declared after 바카라사이트 coup attempt, according to . Almost 6,000 academics have been dismissed.

Commenting on 바카라사이트 case, Ms Nauert said that 바카라사이트 safety of US citizens travelling to, or residing in, Turkey remains a concern.

¡°He¡¯s a Nasa scientist...We¡¯d like to call on 바카라사이트 Turkish government to end 바카라사이트 protracted state of emergency, to release those detained arbitrarily under emergency authorities and to safeguard 바카라사이트 rule of law consistent with Turkey¡¯s own domestic and international obligations and commitments,¡± she said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com