19 youth have been charged following a demonstration at Istanbul’s Taksim Square last month commemorating the 12th anniversary of 2013’s Gezi Park Protests. The demonstration, which took place on May 28th, had resulted in the detention of 21 individuals, including two of whom were underage.
 |
| 19 youth charged following demonstration commemorating anniversary of Gezi protests |
The two underage detainees were released shortly after their arrest, while the 19 others were released on bail with a ban on foreign travel.
An indictment released by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor accuses the demonstration participants of violating ‘Law 2911 regarding gathering and protest marches’.
The demonstrators are also accused of refusing numerous requests from police to leave the area, as well as having operated ‘together within an organization’.
The defendants will appear in court on October 8th.
 |
| 19 youth charged following demonstration commemorating anniversary of Gezi protests The form of protest used by the group, known as ‘standing man’, was a reference to Turkey’s original Gezi Park Protests in 2013. During the events of Gezi, groups of demonstrators simply stood in silence, facing the Atatürk Cultural Center on the east side of Taksim Square in protest of Turkey’s increasingly authoritarian government. The group who imitated this protest on May 28th at Taksim were arrested within 10 minutes by police as they stood facing the same direction. The demonstration was connected to a wave of protests in Turkey over the past three months following the Marth 19th arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a leading figure in the Turkish opposition. |
‘Standing man’ protest
The form of protest used by the group, known as ‘standing man’, was a reference to Turkey’s original Gezi Park Protests in 2013. During the events of Gezi, groups of demonstrators simply stood in silence, facing the Atatürk Cultural Center on the east side of Taksim Square in protest of Turkey’s increasingly authoritarian government.
The group who imitated this protest on May 28th at Taksim were arrested within 10 minutes by police as they stood facing the same direction.
Medyascope'u destekle. Medyascope'a abone ol.
Medyascope’u senin desteğin ayakta tutuyor. Hiçbir patronun, siyasi çıkarın güdümünde değiliz; hangi haberi yapacağımıza biz karar veriyoruz. Tıklanma uğruna değil, kamu yararına çalışıyoruz. Bağımsız gazeteciliğin sürmesi, sitenin açık kalması ve herkesin doğru bilgiye erişebilmesi senin desteğinle mümkün.
The demonstration was connected to a wave of protests in Turkey over the past three months following the Marth 19th arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a leading figure in the Turkish opposition.
Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
