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Trial over 700th week of Saturday Mothers' gathering postponed for prosecutor's opinion
The trial of 46 individuals detained during a police intervention at the 700th gathering of the Saturday Mothers in Istanbul's Galatasaray Square has been postponed for the prosecutor to prepare the final opinion. The defendants face charges of violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations (Law No. 2911), and the 13th hearing was held at the Istanbul 21st Criminal Court of First Instance, but moved to the 27th High Criminal Court due to the small size of the courtroom.
Human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV), Human Rights Association (İHD), Amnesty International, and representatives from PEN Norway, attended the hearing in support.
Defense lawyer Ömer Kavili criticized the trial, stating, "This case was initiated to exert pressure on people. The judge must uphold the principle of justice. This case should have ended in the first hearing. I demand the immediate acquittal of the defendants without separating the file."
Saime Sebla Arcan, a member of the İHD’s Commission Against Enforced Disappearances, also expressed frustration, saying, "This trial has been going on for 13 hearings. People have had to take leave from their jobs 13 times. It has truly turned into judicial harassment."
The prosecutor requested the separation of the case for two defendants who have not yet given their statements and asked for time to prepare the final opinion.
The court ruled to separate the file for the two defendants and sent the case to the prosecution for the preparation of the final opinion. The next hearing is scheduled for January 10, 2025.
