Rabia Çetin
A Turkish court has issued a forced appearance order for two individuals who have not yet provided their defense statements in a case involving protests against the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay). The case concerns 87 members and administrators of the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), who are accused of violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations after protesting Kızılay’s sale of tents intended for earthquake survivors.
The trial’s fifth hearing was held at the Istanbul Anadolu 44th Criminal Court of First Instance. The accusations stem from protests in response to revelations that Kızılay sold tents it had in stock following the devastating earthquakes that struck southeastern Turkey on Feb. 6, 2023. The earthquakes, centered in Kahramanmaraş, caused widespread destruction and left thousands in urgent need of shelter.
Defendants recount protest and arrest
During the hearing, several defendants provided defense statements. Erkan Yalçın described his experience:
"On the day of the incident, I was sitting on a bench in Kadıköy when a crowd gathered, and the police began intervening. While sitting on the bench, I was detained. I later learned why the intervention happened. I had no altercation with the police. I reject the accusations against me and request acquittal."
Another defendant, Doğancan Çelik, explained his participation:
"I joined the protest because it was revealed that Kızılay sold tents after the earthquake. I do not accept the accusations against me."
Defense attorneys and court decisions
One of the defense attorneys, Özgür Urfa, requested that the charges against Ali Ozan Tüm, a defendant currently working abroad, be separated from the case, as he is expected to return to Turkey within a year or two.
Following the defense statements, the court ordered the forced appearance of Hamidiye Işıkoğlu and Ali Ozan Tüm, whose defense statements have not yet been heard. Additionally, the court decided to await the return of a report from an expert and scheduled the next hearing for June 18 at 10:30 a.m.
The protests emerged amid public outrage over the Red Crescent's decision to sell emergency tents during a critical time when earthquake survivors were in desperate need of shelter. This case continues to draw attention as it highlights broader issues of accountability and transparency in disaster response efforts in Turkey.
