Four individuals arrested for attempting to march from Saraçhane to Taksim during May Day celebrations in Istanbul were released with a travel ban imposed, as evidence had been collected and they were deemed to have permanent residences.
The case involves 34 individuals, including Gazete Patika reporter Ali Kadir Güler, who were detained during house raids following the May Day march on May 1, International Workers’ Day. Charges include resisting law enforcement, participating in illegal demonstrations, causing injury, and damaging public property. The first hearing was held at the Istanbul 47th Criminal Court of First Instance but moved to the 27th High Criminal Court due to the small size of the original courtroom.
One of the defendants, Hüdanur Keser, began her defense statement by commemorating workers killed in Taksim on May 1, 1977, emphasizing her right to protest as a worker. "On May 1, 2024, I exercised my constitutional right by attending the rally, passing through police checkpoints. However, we faced disproportionate police violence. Protest is a right in the face of such force. While money launderers and criminals avoid detention, I aimed to be the voice of workers struggling to survive," she said, adding that she suffers from asthma and that prison conditions are inhumane.
Another defendant, Cemalettin Apa, described being detained after attending the protest in response to calls from opposition parties and unions. He mentioned being forced to leave his two daughters behind during a house raid days after the event. The two other detained defendants, Ömer Faruk Taştan and Ümit Deniz, similarly cited union calls as the reason for their participation.
In his defense, Gazete Patika reporter Ali Kadir Güler stated that he was documenting the event for his job. He reported facing police violence while trying to carry out his journalistic duties, a situation he described as a violation of both press freedom and the public’s right to information. The defendants and their lawyers argued that images used as evidence were obtained unlawfully and requested their removal from the case file.
The prosecutor requested the release of the detained defendants, citing the lack of new evidence and their stable residences. He also recommended merging the case with a related May Day trial ongoing at the Istanbul 44th Criminal Court of First Instance.
The court ruled to release the four detained defendants under a travel ban, noting that the evidence had been collected and there was no risk of tampering. The next hearing is scheduled for December 4, and police officers listed as complainants are expected to attend. The court will also seek to merge the case with the ongoing May Day trial.
