Acquittal in Gezi Trial in Kırklareli

* Photo: Ufuk Ertop / AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

A second verdict of acquittal has been given for all defendants put on trial in relation with the Gezi protests in Kırklareli.

After the 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation reversed the verdict given by the local court in 2014, 230 defendants stood trial again at the Kırklareli 2nd Penal Court of First Instance. They were charged with "opposition to the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations."

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the sixth hearing of the case held today (February 17) was attended by the defendants who did not testify in previous hearings and their attorneys.

After the testimonies were completed, the court board has ruled for the acquittal of all 230 defendants standing trial as part of four separate files. Announcing the acquittal of all defendants, defending lawyer Metin İriz has underlined that justice and democracy have been served.

What happened?

Having faced 3 years in prison on charge of "opposition to the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations" for attending the Gezi protests in Turkey's northwestern province of Kırklareli between June 1 and 17, 2013, all 230 defendants were previously acquitted by the local court.

The 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation ruled that the verdicts of acquittal should be reversed on procedural grounds.

After the Court of Cassation reversed the verdicts of acquittal, another indictment was filed against the defendants and the trial started again on April 18, 2018. (DB/SD)