Acquittal finalized in Akyaka sunbed protest
The acquittal of environmental activists who were tried for protesting against the use of sunbeds at the Akyaka Forest Camp in Muğla has been finalized following an appeal; the court supported the activists who defended the public's right to access the coastline.
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Environmental activists who were tried following a protest regarding the use of sunbeds at the Muğla Akyaka Forest Camp have been acquitted. Although the decision was appealed, it was upheld by the higher court and has now been finalized. This development is considered an important step regarding the public's right to access the coastline.
In October 2023, environmental activists in the town of Akyaka, Muğla, organized a protest on the grounds that the use of sunbeds at the Forest Camp was preventing public access to the shore. The operator of the campsite, the Muğla Service Foundation, had been accused of restricting free public access to the coast through the use of sunbeds.
According to journalist Yaşar Anter, all defendants were acquitted in the case opened following the protest. After the decision was appealed, the higher court upheld the acquittal. This ruling strongly supported the environmental activists' demands regarding public access to the coast. The court's decision may set a precedent for similar cases and could serve as an important basis for defending the public's right to access the coastline.