08.04.2025 13:30
After the investigations into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, a lawsuit has been filed against 139 suspects, 104 of whom are detained, with a request for up to 3 years in prison for participating in the protest demonstrations.
After the corruption and terrorism investigations against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), a lawsuit was filed against 139 suspects, 104 of whom are detained, with a request for up to 3 years in prison for participating in unauthorized demonstrations.
REMINDER OF THE CALL TO GATHER IN SARAÇHANE
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was reminded that the CHP called for gatherings in front of the IMM building and in Saraçhane Park on March 19 and the following days as part of the investigation against IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlu.
The indictment stated that necessary measures were taken by law enforcement against possible incidents, and that the crowd gathered on March 23 was informed by law enforcement, based on the decision of the Istanbul Governorship, that gatherings, marches, and protests were banned from March 19 to 23.
“THEY ATTACKED THE POLICE LINE AND SHOWED DISTURBANCE”
Despite the notification of the ban, the indictment emphasized that the gathered crowd insisted on not dispersing and attacked the police line, stating that proportional intervention was made against the protesters who resisted dispersing, despite multiple warnings made by law enforcement using loudspeakers, and that the suspects were apprehended.
The indictment mentioned that when the group was warned to disperse, lasers were pointed at law enforcement and their cameras by the crowd to obstruct their view, and that the group continued to wait in the area. It was recorded that as time progressed, the crowd responded to law enforcement, who were trying to prevent them, with stones, sticks, bottles, flammable and incendiary materials, and hard objects.
INDICTMENT ACCEPTED BY THE 49TH CRIMINAL COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE
In the indictment, it was stated that the suspects claimed they did not gather under the pressure or encouragement of anyone in their defense at the police station and in court, and they denied the accusations. The indictment assessed that the suspects acted together in unity of thought and action, and requested that the suspects be sentenced to imprisonment of 6 months to 3 years for the crime of "violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations." It was also noted that investigations were being conducted against the suspects for the crimes of "resisting the execution of duty" and "insulting the President." The indictment was accepted by the Istanbul 49th Criminal Court of First Instance.