Gulen's defense counsel Abdulkadir Aksoy and Orhan Erdemli attended the trial yesterday at Ankara's 11th High Criminal Court.

Lawyer Abdulkadir Aksoy during his defense reminded the court that Turkish schools opened with the encouragement of Gulen are supported by state dignitaries. Gulen has no involvement in terrorist actions whatsoever, Aksoy maintained, citing the remarks of his client that "A Muslim cannot be a terrorist; a terrorist cannot be a Muslim."

"As these schools are supported by the state, accusing Gulen of terrorism simply does not comply with the law," he added.

Highlighting the change made in the Counter-Terrorism Act no 3713 Aksoy said the conditions of force and violence are needed for an action to be considered a terrorist action. Gulen's activities do not constitute a crime, therefore he asked the verdict to be "acquittal."

Prosecutor Salim Demirci claimed the request for an acquittal is inappropriate, and asked the court to overrule the demand.

Court Chairman Orhan Karadeniz adjourned the trial to May 5 for the dossier to be examined by the delegation.

The case opened by Nuh Mete Yuksel, former prosecutor at the abolished State Security Court, was adjourned in the frame of conditional release No 4616.

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