HAYRİ DEMİR
A lawsuit has been filed against ten individuals who held a "Democracy Vigil" outside the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) in Ankara, Turkey, in response to discrepancies between the wet signature protocols and the data published by the YSK. The individuals, mainly university students, are facing prison sentences ranging from six months to three years.
The initial dispute arose following the presidential and parliamentary general elections held on May 14, 2023. The first-round results showed inconsistencies in the data, prompting a significant number of people, primarily university students, to start a "Democracy Vigil" in front of the Ankara Provincial and Central District Election Boards. The group, protesting the mismatched election results, was detained during a sit-in demonstration.
After being released pending trial following their statements at the police station, an indictment was prepared against the ten individuals for "violating the Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstration Marches." According to the indictment, the sit-in outside the YSK building was in violation of the law, which prohibits assemblies and demonstration marches in parks, places of worship, buildings and facilities serving public purposes, their extensions, and within a one-kilometer radius of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
The indictment also mentioned that the police officers warned the group to disperse, and following their refusal, they were detained "in a proportional manner in accordance with the instructions of the republic prosecutor."
The indictment included an analysis of the footage from the time of the arrest, stating that despite warnings, the accused continued their protest by linking arms, which was deemed in violation of the law.
Consequently, the prosecution is seeking imprisonment of six months to three years for the ten individuals for "violating the Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstration Marches."
The indictment has been accepted by the 27th Criminal Court of First Instance in Ankara, and a lawsuit has been filed against B. O., Y. A. G., İ. K., İ. C. A., İ. K., İ. A., U. B. Ö., M. Y. Y., M. M. Ö., and D. Ç. The first hearing of the case is scheduled for September 17, 2024.
The YSK is the highest electoral authority in Turkey, responsible for overseeing elections and ensuring their fairness and legality. This legal action highlights ongoing tensions and concerns over electoral transparency and democratic processes in Turkey. The involvement of university students in political activism is a common aspect of the country's vibrant yet often contentious political landscape.
