- Seven people who were tried on the grounds that they participated in protests that started after March 19, when Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor İmamoğlu and many figures from CHP-run municipalities were taken into custody, have been acquitted.
- In the case where independent journalist Barlas Helvacı and students were tried, the court said “the elements of the crime did not occur.”
Büşra Genel
A decision of acquittal was given for 7 people against whom a lawsuit had been filed on the grounds that they participated in protests held at METU following the mass detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and many others.
The decision hearing of the case in which independent journalist Barlas Helvacı and students were tried was held at the Ankara 30th Criminal Court of First Instance. The hearing started with approximately a one-hour delay due to the court’s workload.
The presiding judge, stating that the defendants’ interrogations had been completed, asked the prosecutor to present his opinion on the merits.
In his opinion, the prosecutor recalled that the defendants were being tried on the charge of “participating unarmed in unlawful meetings and marches and not dispersing despite warning.” However, stating that as a result of the proceedings the elements of the crime had not been formed, he requested acquittal for all defendants.
The court also ruled for the acquittal of the 7 people on the grounds that “the conditions of the crime were not formed.”
About the case
Following the operations against the CHP, protests were held across the country on March 19. Seven people who participated in the protests at METU were taken into custody.
The 7 people, including independent journalist Barlas Helvacı and students, were released after being held in custody for a period of time.
A lawsuit was filed against them on the charge of “participating unarmed in unlawful marches and demonstrations and not dispersing despite warning.” In the indictment, camera recordings and Helvacı’s social media posts were included as evidence.
