Two pro-Palestine activists detained by the FBI Wednesday were released on bond Monday afternoon. They join four of their co-defendants, who were released on similar terms during a set of hearings Friday.
The two defendants who appeared in court Monday, Ahmet Korkaya and Alexander Sepulveda — currently live in Wisconsin and Illinois, respectively. They belong to a larger group of eight pro-Palestine activists, most associated with the University of Michigan, who have been federally indicted by the Department of Justice for an alleged campaign of vandalism and threats against the University and other local institutions. Local pro-Palestine groups have disputed the validity of these charges, arguing they are part of a broader trend of government repression against pro-Palestine activism.
Korkaya and Sepulveda are accused of multiple counts of conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate and foreign commerce for their alleged participation in acts of vandalism, such as spraying graffiti, breaking windows and throwing noxious chemicals into the homes of University officials. If convicted, they could face up to five years in federal prison for each count. Sepulveda also faces one count of destruction of property to prevent seizure for allegedly clearing his phone and laptop history during a previous FBI raid, a charge which could carry an additional five years in federal prison.
The two previously appeared before federal courts in their respective home states of Illinois and Wisconsin, and were released on bond shortly after their detainment. However, both were required to reappear before federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan, which presides over the case. The pair’s bond hearing was the first to occur without an accompanying protest.
The judge ruled that both defendants be released on an unsecured bond. The two are unable to contact their co-defendants or any other individuals involved in the case as alleged co-conspirators or victims. They will also be unable to travel outside of the Eastern District of Michigan and the federal districts encompassing their homes in Wisconsin and Illinois, and will be subject to GPS monitoring. Korkaya will be subjected to a curfew. The four defendants who appeared before court on Friday received similar conditions for their bond.
Sepulveda and Korkaya, along with all others named in the indictment, will eventually appear in court to be tried against the United States Government. A date for this trial has not yet been specified.
Daily News Editor Glenn Hedin can be reached at heglenn@umich.edu.
