The fourth hearing in the trial of Mücella Yapıcı, Ali Hakan Altınay, and Yiğit Ali Ekmekçi, accused of violating Turkey's Law on Meetings and Demonstrations, was postponed to Feb. 11, 2025, after the assigned prosecutor was temporarily reassigned.
The trial, held at Istanbul’s 13th High Criminal Court, follows the Court of Cassation's decision to overturn the defendants’ previous sentences of 18 years each. Yapıcı, Altınay, and Ekmekçi were not present at the hearing, but their lawyers attended.
Prosecutor’s absence delays case
The presiding judge informed attendees that the prosecutor responsible for presenting the final opinion had been temporarily reassigned, delaying proceedings. The court ordered the case file to be returned to the prosecution for the preparation of the final opinion.
Background on the case
The defendants, prominent figures in civil society, were initially convicted of organizing illegal protests. The Court of Cassation annulled the verdicts, citing procedural flaws, necessitating a retrial. The case has drawn international attention, with human rights organizations such as Amnesty International closely monitoring the proceedings.
Milena Buyum, Amnesty International’s Turkey Campaigner, attended the hearing, underscoring the trial’s significance in the broader context of freedom of assembly and judicial independence in Turkey.
