Major Trial Opens for Nearly 200 Protesters in Turkey Following Government Crackdown

The trial of 189 defendants, mainly students, began in Istanbul following mass protests triggered by the detention of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, on alleged corruption charges. Demonstrators assert their actions were legitimate and part of a broader fight for democracy, while the government has enforced strict penalties against participants.

A trial of nearly 200 individuals accused of participating in protests against the Turkish government has begun in Istanbul. The demonstrations erupted on 19 March following the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, a prominent political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who faces allegations of corruption, which he firmly denies.

Out of the 189 defendants currently on trial at the Caglayan courthouse, a significant number are university students, with eight being journalists. They face charges related to participating in protests deemed illegal and failing to disperse after police warnings. This represents the first court proceeding involving protesters from the marches, with the Istanbul prosecutor's office indicating that a total of 819 people are implicated in 20 separate criminal cases. Human Rights Watch notes that penalties for these charges could range anywhere from six months to five years of imprisonment.

Among those arrested was an Istanbul University student who spent 20 days in jail. Speaking to BBC Turkish, they expressed hope for the acquittal of all involved: "I hope they will turn back from this shame as soon as possible and decide today to acquit everyone." Another second-year student from Mimar Sinan University remarked, "We have no fear; we are not the ones who should be afraid."

According to reports from the Parents Solidarity Network (PSN), which advocates for the families of detained students, most of the individuals arrested after the protests have been released recently, though approximately 50 students remain in custody. PSN member Avni Gündoğan emphasized the legitimacy of the protest, stating, "Our children were involved in a democratic, peaceful and legitimate action, they fought for this country to be a free and democratic country."

The detained journalists, including AFP reporter Yasin Akgül, are accused of not only participating in unlawful protests but also failing to disperse after directives from authorities. During the proceedings, their lawyer requested their acquittal, arguing that they were merely reporting rather than engaging in the protests. However, this motion was dismissed by the court. The Turkish Journalists Union noted that the journalists' cases have been separated from those of the student protesters.

The arrest of İmamoğlu, who is seen by many as a significant challenger to Erdoğan in the upcoming 2028 presidential elections, has fueled claims among supporters that the move was politically motivated. Despite an official ban on public gatherings and protests issued by local authorities, hundreds of thousands have participated in the demonstrations since the crackdown began, with police apprehending nearly 2,000 individuals, the majority of whom are university students.