Release decision for 30 defendants detained during May 1st protests

The trial of 30 defendants, 25 of whom were in custody, accused of causing unrest and resisting police by attacking them with stones, water jugs, kicks, and punches during the May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day in Istanbul, has begun.

Some of the detained and non-detained defendants were present at the hearing held at the Istanbul 44th Criminal Court of First Instance, and a large number of defense attorneys also attended.

In her defense, detained defendant Alev Palu stated, "I was aware that Taksim was closed to demonstrations. When pepper spray was sprayed in my face, I reflexively threw the flag pole I was holding at the police in self-defense," while detained defendant Ayşe Beliz requested her acquittal and release.

"I WANTED TO GO TO TAKSIM UPON ÖZGÜR ÖZEL'S CALL"

Non-detained defendant Bekir Aslan also stated that he was aware of the restrictions, saying, "I wanted to go to Taksim on May 1st to demonstrate upon the call of Özgür Özel.

I did not act with the intention of attacking the police, but to protect myself. I performed my actions reflexively. I do not accept the accusations," he said.

The defense attorneys stated that their clients did not accept the accusations against them and requested their release and acquittal.

RELEASE OF DETAINED DEFENDANTS ORDERED

The Public Prosecutor requested the continuation of the detention of the detained defendants and the continuation of judicial control measures for the non-detained defendants.

After hearing the defenses, the court announced its interim decision and ordered the release of all detained defendants with a travel ban. Furthermore, the panel ruled to lift the judicial control measure requiring signature for all non-detained defendants, while maintaining the travel ban, and adjourned the hearing to December 25, 2024.

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST SPECTATOR

Additionally, the court stated that it was determined that some spectators took photos in the courtroom during the recess and shared them on a social media platform, and ordered that the individuals who took the photos be identified and a criminal complaint be filed against them.

FROM THE INDICTMENT

The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that there were calls on social media by various confederations, unions, NGOs, marginal groups, and formations to carry out an 'illegal march' to Taksim Square from Fatih Saraçhane Park.

The prepared indictment stated that based on the prohibition decision taken by the Fatih District Governorship, closure and search points were established in and around the specified locations by the Istanbul Provincial Security Directorate, and that despite this, it was observed that the aforementioned groups and individual participants arrived at the scene.

The indictment noted that despite the prohibition decision, the crowd gathered in the square was warned loudly more than 3 times to disperse and intervention was made to disperse them; it was recorded that the suspects insisted on not dispersing by attacking the security forces' line formed in the Saraçhane wall front area with stones, flag poles, water jugs, kicks, and punches in order to reach Taksim Square, that the suspects acted in unity of intent and action, and that the suspects injured the complainant police officers by throwing hard objects such as stones and paving stones, hitting with flag poles and water jugs, kicking, punching, and pushing.

UP TO 17 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT REQUESTED

In the prepared indictment, it was requested that 30 suspects be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 3 years and 9 months to 17 years each for the crimes of 'resisting to prevent the performance of duty', 'participating in unlawful meetings and marches unarmed and not dispersing voluntarily despite warnings', 'intentional injury', and 'damaging public property'.