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| Selami Simsek in the Court in Tirana |
Simsek was arrested at Rinas Airport on the same day with his compatriot Harun Çelik. Both had followed the same route while previously in Pristina, where they had shared the same room, awaiting a Canadian visa in exchange for payment. The two had entered with their regular passports at the border and were discovered by Albanian authorities in an attempt to fly to Canada.
Simsek appeared in Court for the first time today and has been in custody for nearly six months. Interest in his case was fueled by procedures followed with an unusual urgency for Harun Çelik. The latter fled his country as a supporter of the Gülen movement because of threats to life, was expelled from Albania within a few hours of his release from prison.
The first record of his case by the Albanian authorities was contradictory, to the extent that even the Turkish lawyers had not received official information as to what action had been taken against their client.
One lawyer told Voice of America that "Mr. Çelik asked for political asylum but this was rejected by the prison police authorities." He explained that he had made the request in the presence of an interpreter, but leaders of the prison were told that he would have to do so when he will be released, which is seen by the lawyer as a violation of their client's rights.
Turkish authorities have repeatedly demanded from the Albanian side the capture of members of the Feto organization, considered as terrorists by Ankara. Representatives of the Turkish embassy were present at the hearing against Selami Simsek, but the latter, questioned by the judge, said he did not consider this a problem while seeking summary judgment.