10/04/2025 | Writer: Oğulcan Özgenç
The first hearing of the case against 4 people who were detained for participating in the press declaration during the 10th Antalya Pride Week was held.
On July 14, 2024, Ahmet Çevik, Zeliha Şengöz, Gülnur Yılmaz, and Taylan Ekici were detained for participating in a peaceful press statement during the 10th Antalya Pride Week. They were charged with violating the Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations. The first hearing of their case took place today.
The hearing was monitored by several organizations, including Özgür Kanatlar Antalya, Biz LGBTQI+ Initiative, Antalya Feminist Collective, Antalya Women's Counseling and Solidarity, Antalya Women's Platform, Antalya Bar Association’s Women's Rights VE Gender Equality Commission, the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP), the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), Antalya Vegan Platform, ÖHD, ÇHD, İHD, Halkevleri.
Following a request by the defense counsel, the court ordered the police officers present in the courtroom to leave.
During the first hearing, the prosecutor submitted an opinion requesting acquittal. The court ruled in favor of acquittal for all defendants. The court also ordered the return of the megaphone, which had been described as a “tool of crime” in the indictment.
Speaking to KaosGL.org, Attorney Ahmet Çevik said, “We are pleased with the acquittal decision. This case was a clear example of legal harassment targeting LGBTI+ individuals.”
What happened?
The Antalya Pride March, planned for July 14, was obstructed by a ban issued by the Governor’s Office and police intervention. On the day of the march, police intervened against individuals gathering to make a press statement, detaining four people, including three lawyers.
The Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, Bureau of Terror and Organized Crime Investigations, prepared an indictment against the detainees, charging them with “organizing, managing, or participating in an unlawful meeting or demonstration.”
The prosecution also claimed that ISIS had planned terrorist acts in major cities and tourist areas, and that LGBTQI+ organizations were among the targeted groups.
The indictment noted that, on the same day, animal rights defenders had also held a press statement and that some of the individuals who intended to join the Pride March were also present at that event.
According to the police report and the indictment, the megaphone seized during the detention was considered a “tool of crime,” and the stickers on it were listed as evidence.
On the other hand, the prosecution decided not to prepare an indictment regarding the allegations of police violence, stating that “there was no concrete evidence in the file to support claims of assault or verbal abuse by police officers.”
Tags: human rights
