25/10/2024 | Writer: Kaos GL
The prosecutor changed opinion presented on 5 April 2024. The court acquitted all defendants.
The final hearing of the Boğaziçi Pride March trial, in which 70 people were detained under torture for participating in the Pride March on campus on 20 May 2022, was held today. The trial was followed by representatives from UniKuir Association, German Embassy, Canadian Consulate, Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), Ankara Bar Association and students from different universities.
According to MLSA Lawsuit Monitoring, the trial, which was continuing at the Istanbul 58th Criminal Court of First Instance, was held at the Istanbul 30th Assize Court due to the small size of the courtroom.
The prosecutor changed opinion presented on 5 April 2024. In prosecutor's previous opinion, the prosecutor asked for the defendants to be sentenced for ‘participating in unlawful meetings and demonstrations without weapons and not dispersing spontaneously despite a warning’, but the prosecutor stated that the request for the dismissal of the case against one defendant who died was valid and asked for the acquittal of all defendants. The court acquitted all defendants.
What happened?
In the Boğaziçi Pride March case, 69 people were on trial for participating in the Pride March held on the campus on 20 May 2022, despite being detained under torture. In the case filed at Istanbul 58th Criminal Court of First Instance, two of the students who were accused of ‘participating in an illegal march and not dispersing despite the warning’ were also charged with ‘resisting to prevent the execution of duty’.
Tags: human rights, education
