Twenty participants in the Cumartesi Anneleri (Saturday Mothers/People) protest, who were detained during the 950th weekly gathering in Istanbul’s Galatasaray Square, have been acquitted. The court ruled that the legal elements of the alleged crime were not present.
Despite previous rulings by Turkey’s Constitutional Court acknowledging rights violations against the Cumartesi Anneleri, 20 individuals, including relatives of the disappeared and human rights advocates, were charged with "violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations" following their detention on June 10, 2023. The fourth hearing of the case was held at Istanbul's 39th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Human rights organizations such as the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV), the Human Rights Association (İHD), Amnesty International, and CHP lawmaker Sezgin Tanrıkulu attended the hearing in support of the defendants.
'Saturday Mothers' actions are an honor for Turkey'
During the trial, Cüneyt Yılmaz, one of the defendants, testified that they were detained on İstiklal Avenue without any prior warning. He shared that while in custody, they were asked how they had learned about the protest. Yılmaz emphasized the significance of the Cumartesi Anneleri's struggle, stating, "If we are not disappeared today, it is because of the efforts of the Cumartesi Anneleri."
Another defendant, Hünkar Yurtsever, asserted that they had exercised their constitutional rights, saying, "We do not need permission from anyone to participate in this protest; we joined entirely of our own will."
Oya Meriç Eyüboğlu, another participant, highlighted the unjust treatment they received, including being handcuffed despite voluntarily entering the police vehicle. She pointed out that multiple Constitutional Court rulings affirmed their right to protest, yet their complaints have gone unanswered. “We are facing arbitrary actions,” she remarked.
Prosecutor recommends acquittal, sparks debate
The prosecutor, in his final opinion, stated that the legal elements of the alleged crime were not established, and requested the acquittal of all defendants.
However, a heated exchange ensued when attorney Eren Keskin commented on the prosecutor’s reluctance, suggesting that his request for acquittal appeared to be made "unwillingly." Keskin argued that there had been no crime, and that the defendants' freedom of expression had been unjustly curtailed.
Lawyer Murat Çelik criticized the reasoning behind the prosecutor’s acquittal request, stating that no one with legal knowledge and conscience would present such justifications. This prompted the prosecutor to respond sharply, saying, “No one can call a prosecutor of the Turkish nation without conscience.” After Çelik retorted, “You don’t deserve that robe,” the court called a 15-minute recess.
Court acquits all defendants
Following the break, lawyer Gülseren Yoleri reiterated that the defendants had exercised their constitutional rights, noting that the protests of the Cumartesi Anneleri continue. She called for the immediate acquittal of all defendants, as no crime had been committed.
The court ultimately ruled that the legal elements of the alleged offense were not present and acquitted all 20 defendants.
