EYLEM SONBAHAR
A Turkish prosecutor has called for prison sentences for six individuals detained during a public forum organized by the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) in Istanbul’s historic Gülhane Park, alleging they refused to disperse despite police warnings.
The case stems from an April 10 gathering organized by TİP-affiliated students in the park, which is located near the Topkapı Palace and serves as one of the oldest public parks in Istanbul. The six defendants are charged with "participating in an unlawful assembly and demonstration without arms and failing to disperse despite warnings" under Turkey’s restrictive Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations.
At the second hearing of the case, held at the Istanbul 30th Criminal Court of First Instance, the prosecutor submitted the final opinion on the merits of the case. The prosecutor cited video footage reviewed by the Istanbul Security Directorate’s Public Order Branch, claiming the defendants were part of a large group that remained in the park despite repeated warnings broadcast over loudspeakers.
The prosecutor argued that the group’s continued presence transformed the gathering into an unlawful assembly and requested that each of the six defendants be sentenced individually for their alleged actions.
Defense lawyers attended the hearing, though the defendants were not present. Attorney Özgür Urfa requested additional time to respond to the prosecutor’s opinion, arguing that the forum should not be considered unlawful under Law No. 2911. “Article 4 of the law states that conversations between members of parliament and the public do not fall within the scope of this legislation. This point was ignored in the prosecutor’s opinion. Erkan Baş, a member of parliament for Istanbul, attended the meeting,” he said.
Following similar requests from other defense attorneys, the court granted additional time and postponed the hearing to Nov. 27.
