EYLEM SONBAHAR
A Turkish court has acquitted all defendants of terrorism-related propaganda charges in a case stemming from a local festival in Istanbul's Ümraniye district, but handed down prison sentences for other offenses, including resisting police and damaging public property.
The trial concerned 10 individuals who were detained during a march held in the 1 Mayıs (May Day) neighborhood of Ümraniye in 2022, as part of the annual “September 2 Festival.” The group faced charges under Turkey’s controversial Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, which regulates public protests. In addition to the alleged violation of this law, two individuals were charged with “resisting a public official,” and three others with “damaging public property.”
The 10th hearing of the case took place at the 25th High Criminal Court in Istanbul. None of the defendants were present, but their lawyers attended.
During the session, the prosecutor repeated his final opinion, submitted between hearings, alleging that the defendants chanted slogans such as “Our leader is İbrahim Kaypakkaya” and carried flags of the leftist group Partizan featuring Kaypakkaya’s image. Despite police warnings to disperse, the prosecutor claimed the group continued the protest, warranting charges of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” and “participating in an unlawful assembly without weapons and refusing to disperse on police orders.”
The prosecutor also requested prison terms for three defendants accused of damaging police shields, considered public property, and for two others accused of resisting law enforcement.
Defense lawyers argued for full acquittal for all charges.
Following a recess, the court ruled to acquit all defendants of the charge of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization.” However, it found all 10 guilty of violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations and sentenced each to five months in prison. The sentence for one defendant was suspended, while for the others, the court issued a decision to defer the announcement of the verdict — a legal mechanism in Turkey that postpones sentencing under certain conditions.
Three individuals were each given suspended 10-month prison sentences for “damaging public property.” On the charge of resisting police, the court acquitted one defendant and sentenced the other to five months in prison, with a deferred announcement of the verdict.
Background
The 1 Mayıs neighborhood in Istanbul’s Ümraniye district is known for its leftist political tradition and has long hosted the “September 2 Festival,” which commemorates historical left-wing activism. İbrahim Kaypakkaya, frequently referenced during the events, was a Marxist-Leninist revolutionary who founded the Communist Party of Turkey/Marxist–Leninist (TKP/ML) and was killed in Turkish military custody in 1973. Turkish authorities consider TKP/ML a terrorist organization.
