crowds forming in the Court Building. Nevertheless the Court was packed to hear first Muhsin Alev, the student who had had the work printed, then the defence speeches of first Bediuzzaman, then his three lawyers.
Once again Bediuzzaman pointed out that what he was and had been accused of principally was "opposing the regime", but on condition public order was not disturbed in any way, to do so could not be considered a crime. On the contrary, to oppose wrong, oppression, and unlawfulness was licit and a genuine element of justice. Secondly was the charge of disturbing public security, but six courts and in six provinces having been unable to produce any evidence for this proved that Nurcu's - Risale-i Nur Students - were preservers of the peace. As for exploiting religion for political ends, again the courts had cleared him of this and to accuse someone of over eighty years of age who was "at the door of the grave" and owned nothing in the world was entirely unjust and wrong. Bediuzzaman concluded his speech by saying:
"And so, respected judges, for twenty-eight years they have oppressed and wronged me and my students in this way. And the prosecutors in the courts did not hold back from insulting us. We met it all with patience and continued on the way of serving belief and the Qur'an. And we forgave the officials of the former regime for that tyranny and oppression of their's, for they met the end they deserved, while we gained our rights and our freedom. We thank Almighty God for giving us this opportunity to speak these words before just and believing judges like yourselves..."
Bediuzzaman’s three lawyers then presented their defences and the judges withdrew to deliberate. Their unanimous decision was announced; once again, acquittal. The announcement met with resounding applause from Bediuzzaman's students and the spectators. In later years the chief judge of the case said of that day:
"He was an intelligent person. He foresaw the result of the trial from the way it was going. He did not display the slightest trace of