Duygu Kıt
A Turkish prosecutor has argued that protests against government-appointed trustees in the eastern province of Tunceli (Dersim) were unlawful and called for penalties against four people on trial for participating in the demonstrations.
The case concerns Enes Boran, Şiyar Ataş, Aynur Can, and Veli Akyol, who were detained on Nov. 26, 2024, during a police raid for joining protests against the appointment of trustees to the municipalities of Dersim and Ovacık. They were charged with "resisting a public officer," "damaging public property," and "violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations." The trial's first hearing took place at the Tunceli 1st Criminal Court of First Instance.
The defendants, who had been released from pretrial detention, were present in court, along with representatives from the Health and Social Service Workers' Union (SES) Dersim Branch, ousted Dersim Municipality Co-Mayor Cevdet Konak, members of the pro-Kurdish DEM Party’s provincial organization, and an observer from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA).
Speaking in his defense, SES member Enes Boran said:
"I joined the protests of my own free will because appointing trustees is an undemocratic practice. I exercised my constitutional right. I do not accept the accusations against me and request acquittal."
The other defendants echoed Boran's statement, asserting they had exercised their constitutional rights and demanding acquittal.
Their lawyers also argued that their clients had engaged in lawful, democratic protest against what they described as an unjust practice. They requested the court to dismiss the charges.
However, the prosecutor maintained that the protests were illegal and insisted that the defendants should be convicted on all charges.
The court postponed the trial to April 16, 2025, while lifting judicial control measures previously imposed on the defendants.
Background on the case
On Nov. 22, 2024, Turkey’s Interior Ministry appointed government trustees to replace the elected mayors of Dersim and Ovacık, a move that sparked protests. Four demonstrators were arrested during a police raid on Nov. 26, 2024, and jailed on charges of violating protest laws, resisting police, and damaging public property. They were released on Dec. 3, 2024, after their lawyers filed appeals.
Enes Boran, one of the defendants, was injured in the eye by rubber bullets fired by police during the protests. His lawyers previously stated they would file a criminal complaint over the incident.
