Release for detained defendants in May 1st case: 'I haven't been able to pay my rent for 4 months'

The hearing, which was scheduled to be held at the 47th Criminal Court of First Instance, was moved to the 27th High Criminal Court due to the small size of the courtroom. The hearing, which was supposed to start at 09:00, began at 11:30.

‘MY EMPLOYMENT WAS TERMINATED’

One of the detained defendants, Hüdanur Keser, began her statement by commemorating the workers killed in Taksim on May 1, 1977. Stating that she is a set worker, Keser said the following:

“On May 1, 2024, as a worker, I passed through the police search and control point to go to the area to exercise my constitutional right. I was subjected to disproportionate violence by police officers who ignored the Constitutional Court's ruling. Protest is a right in the face of disproportionate force. While money launderers, murderers, and harassers are being tried without arrest, I participated in May 1st for the workers who want to bring bread to their homes. Due to my detention, my employment was terminated. I cannot pay my bills and my rent.”

According to the report by Tuğba Özer from Gerçek Gündem, Keser stated that she is an asthma patient, emphasized that the conditions in prison were poor, and requested her release. Keser's lawyer, Maviş Aydın Şimşek, also reiterated the request for release, stating that her client had lost 10 kilos in prison.

‘I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PAY MY RENT FOR 4 MONTHS’

One of the detained defendants, Cemalettin Apa, said, “Throughout my 30-year working life, I have always had to work at the hunger and poverty line,” and stated the following in his defense:

“May 1st is the day we tell our own problems. We went to Saraçhane Square to celebrate our holiday. As alleged in the indictment, no criminal element was found on me at the police search point. Days after May 1st, I was taken into custody, having to leave my 9-11 year old daughters alone at home. I am a worker who has been laboring for 30 years; I am neither a criminal nor a fugitive. I am a worker who makes a living by his labor. Even if I am retired, I have to work. The house I live in is rented. I have a family I have to support. I have been in custody for 3.5 months, and I haven't been able to pay my rent for 4 months.”

‘IT IS LEGITIMATE TO REACT’

Another detained defendant, Ümit Deniz, stated that he went to May 1st upon the call of unions and political parties, saying, “Today, it is not us who are being accused here, but May 1st and Taksim itself. Currently, the lowest rent in Istanbul is 18,000 TL, the minimum wage is 17,500 TL, and the pension is 12,000 TL. It is legitimate for people to react to this hunger and poverty they are pushed into; May 1st is legitimate.”

Stating that they were subjected to torture with reverse handcuffs while in custody, Deniz said, “We were terrorized on social media. After the Ministry of Interior targeted us by saying 'we caught those who fled,' we were taken into custody in dawn raids despite the fact that we had not fled anywhere.”

RELEASE FOR 4 DEFENDANTS

After the defenses, the prosecutor announced his opinion and requested the release of the 4 defendants, taking into account the duration of their detention. In his opinion, the prosecutor also requested that the current case be merged with the case opened at the Istanbul 44th Criminal Court of First Instance regarding May 1st.

The presiding judge, announcing the decision, decided to release the detained defendants Hüdanur Keser, Cemalettin Apa, Ömer Faruk Taştan, and Ümit Deniz, taking into account that the evidence had been largely collected, that the defendants had permanent residences, and the time they had spent in custody.

The court also decided to lift the judicial control measures for 25 defendants, while deciding that the travel ban for all defendants would continue. The court decided to write a warrant again to the Istanbul 44th Criminal Court of First Instance for the merger of the cases and adjourned the hearing to December 4 at 09:30.

WHAT HAPPENED?

On May 1st, the Day of Unity, Struggle and Solidarity, the police intervened against the crowd that gathered at Istanbul's Saraçhane Square upon the call of the CHP and unions and wanted to march to Taksim Square, and many people were detained.

Days after May 1st, many people were detained in dawn operations carried out at various addresses, and nearly 100 people were arrested for different periods. Release decisions had been made for the detainees who appeared before the judge.

News Source: 12punto