Esila Ayık in court! Access blocked

Esila Ayık, who was arrested for carrying a sign reading "Dictator Erdoğan" at the Kadıköy Solidarity Stage and suffers from chronic illnesses, faces up to 4 years and 8 months in prison on charges of "insulting the President." The first hearing of the case began at the 77th Criminal Court of First Instance in Kartal under heavy security measures. The hearing started 2.5 hours late due to the young people being brought from prison late.

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In the indictment prepared by the Press Crimes Investigation Bureau of the Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding Esila Ayık, who was arrested on April 8 for carrying a "Dictator Erdoğan" sign at the Kadıköy Solidarity Stage, a prison sentence of 1 year and 2 months to 4 years and 8 months was requested for Ayık, who suffers from chronic heart and kidney disease, on charges of "publicly insulting the President."

The first hearing of the case in which Ayık is being tried is being held today at the Anatolian 77th Criminal Court of First Instance in Kartal.

COURTROOM UNDER BLOCKADE

The area around the courtroom was closed off with barricades starting from the morning hours. Numerous lawyers from the Istanbul Bar Association, journalists, CHP Deputy Chairman Suat Özçağdaş, CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik, and CHP Istanbul Provincial Women's Branch President Hatice Selli Dursun also came to the Anatolian Courthouse to follow the hearing.

It was reported that as a result of discussions with the judge, one lawyer from the Istanbul Bar Association and one journalist each from Anadolu Agency and ANKA News Agency would be allowed inside. The request to move the hearing to a larger courtroom remained unanswered. Journalists who wanted to enter were escorted out by police.

While Ayık's friends called out, "We are waiting for everyone's support. Esila will be among us tomorrow. Stand with us," the Parent Solidarity Network also made a statement before the hearing.

The statement said, "For Esila, and for our children who are still imprisoned, we are with our children for the hearing to be held at 09:00 at the Anatolian (Kartal) 77th Criminal Court of First Instance. Let all our children who exercise their constitutional and democratic rights be released."

News Source: 12punto