Tuna Altinel, mathematician and teacher at the Lyon-1 university - Yasin AKGUL / AFP

After more than nine months in Turkey, including 81 days in detention, Tuna Altinel should be able to return to France soon. The academic, who teaches at Lyon 1 University, was acquitted on Friday by Turkish justice during his trial for "terrorist propaganda".

The man went to his native country in April 2019 for a few days of vacation. But he had been arrested by the authorities, initially accused of belonging to a "terrorist organization".

Confiscated passport

He was accused of having participated in a meeting of a friendly Kurd in France in February 2019. Following his arrest, the teacher had spent 81 days in detention before being released, but the Turkish authorities had confiscated his passport.

Tuna Altinel acquitted of his trial in Turkey thanks to the support of all: his lawyers, @ UnivLyon1 and the functional protection, the arrest of the Turkish authorities the national and international pressure and his support committee. Great joy and immense relief

- Frederic Fleury (@Pr_FredFleury) January 24, 2020

In a press release, the University of Lyon 1 welcomed this acquittal "which is a great victory for freedom of expression". She also expressed her "haste to find him soon".

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