Youths who supported İmamoğlu face the judge! Trial of 16 youths begins

The first hearing in the case of 16 youths—14 of whom have been held in custody for 68 days—who were detained during protests in support of CHP's presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on charges of "insulting the President" is being held today at the Istanbul 40th Criminal Court of First Instance. The hearing is taking place in Silivri, in courtroom number 2 of the Marmara Prison.

APPLAUSE FROM FAMILIES FOR THEIR CHILDREN

As all the youths arrived at the courtroom, their families greeted them with applause. The hearing is being observed by CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik, CHP Trabzon Deputy and lawyer Sibel Suiçmez, IYI Party Bursa Deputy Yüksel Selçuk Türkoğlu, CHP Istanbul Provincial Women's Branch Chair Hatice Selli Dursun, lawyers from the Istanbul Bar Association, and many citizens. The hearing began with identity verification and proceeded to the defense statements after a short while.

The indictment for the 16 youths, 14 of whom are in custody, was prepared 45 days after the incident. The indictment requested prison sentences ranging from 1 to 4 years for the 16 individuals under Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) for the crime of "insulting the President."

The phrase in the indictment stating, "It has been concluded that the suspects standing next to the group chanting slogans containing insults against the President can be evaluated within the scope of the act of insulting the President," had drawn attention.

News Source: 12punto