11.02.2025 13:10
In the Gezi Park trial, the defendants Ayşe Mücella Yapıcı, Yiğit Ali Ekmekçi, and Ali Hakan Altınay were acquitted separately on the grounds that no clear and sufficient evidence was obtained beyond any reasonable doubt for the charge of "attempting to overthrow the government of the Republic of Turkey or preventing it from performing its duties."
```html
After the annulment of the 18-year prison sentences given to the defendants Ayşe Mücella Yapıcı, Yiğit Ali Ekmekçi, and Ali Hakan Altınay regarding the Gezi Park protests, they were released and retried. The trial was held at the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court, where the defendants' lawyers were present.
ACQUITTAL DECISION FOR 3 NAMES
After the defenses were taken, the court announced its decision, stating that there was no evidence beyond reasonable doubt to convict the defendants Ayşe Mücella Yapıcı, Yiğit Ali Ekmekçi, and Ali Hakan Altınay for the crime of 'attempting to overthrow the government of the Republic of Turkey' and decided to acquit them individually.
BACKGROUND OF THE CASE
The Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court had sentenced the detained defendant Osman Kavala to aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of "attempting to overthrow the government of the Republic of Turkey," while ruling for his acquittal for the crime of "political or military espionage." The panel had decided to sentence the defendants Can Atalay, Çiğdem Mater Utku, Ali Hakan Altınay, Mine Özerden, Tayfun Kahraman, Ayşe Mücella Yapıcı, and Yiğit Ali Ekmekçi to 18 years in prison for the crime of "aiding in the attempt to overthrow the government of the Republic of Turkey" and ordered their arrest for this crime. The Istanbul Regional Court of Appeal found the local court's decision to be in accordance with the law. The 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation accepted the conviction of Osman Kavala, who was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of "attempting to overthrow the government of the Republic of Turkey." The chamber also decided to uphold the conviction sentences of Can Atalay, Tayfun Kahraman, Mine Özerden, and Çiğdem Mater Utku, who were sentenced to 18 years in prison for the crime of "aiding in the attempt to overthrow the government of the Republic of Turkey."
The 18-year prison sentences given to Ali Hakan Altınay, Yiğit Ali Ekmekçi, and Ayşe Mücella Yapıcı were overturned by the chamber. In its decision, the chamber indicated that the actions of these defendants did not fall under the scope of "aiding in the attempt to overthrow the government of the Republic of Turkey," stating that their actions should be evaluated under the scope of "violating the law on meetings and demonstrations." The chamber decided to release the defendants Yapıcı and Altınay under judicial control measures after overturning their conviction sentences.
```