22/04/2024 | Writer: Oğulcan Özgenç
The third hearing of the lawsuit filed against Science Education Esthetic Culture Art Researches Foundation Cinema Collective members on the grounds of “coming together to watch the film ‘Pride’” in Pride Month, was held on April 18th. The trial was postponed to 24th September as the prosecutor was unable to finalize their opinion
The third hearing of the lawsuit filed against Science Education Esthetic Culture Art Researches Foundation (BEKSAV) Cinema Collective members on the grounds of “coming together to watch the film ‘Pride’” in Pride Month, was held on April 18th, at the Anadolu Courthouse (Kartal), at the 45th Criminal Court of First Instance.
The case was postponed to September 24th as the prosecutor was unable to finalize their opinion.
Lawyer Doğukan Taşdan provided updates on the case to KaosGL.org.
Taşdan highlighted that all defendants and their legal representatives had presented their arguments in previous hearings. He explained, “We are currently awaiting the prosecutor’s final opinion, whether it will lean towards acquittal or prosecution. While I attended the hearing for this purpose, the prosecutor was unable to finalize his opinion, leading to the adjournment of the hearing to September 24th.”
“The prosecution failed to provide its final opinion without offering any justification”
Emphasizing that they have been asserting from the outset of this trial that there’s no criminality involved in the case, Taşdan said: “That’s why we’ve been advocating for an immediate verdict of acquittal, stressing the importance of avoiding prolongation, and highlighting the potential violation of right to fair trial if the case persists unnecessarily. Despite all defendants presenting their defenses, and all legal aspects being addressed, the prosecution failed to provide its final opinion without any justification. Individuals were detained over actions that didn’t constitute criminal offenses, an investigation ensued, a lawsuit was filed, yet we’re witnessing a deviation from rendering a decision of acquittal promptly instead of postponing the case. This undermines the fundamental right to a fair trial.”
What happened?
On June 7th, BEKSAV Cinema Collective had made a call for watching the movie “Pride”, which depicts a group of lesbian and gay activists who raised money to help families affected by the British miners' strike in 1984 and the solidarity between miners and queers in United Kingdom, within the scope of Pride Month events.
CLICK – Ban out of the blue, lawsuit out of the blue: Don't drink tea or watch movies
Following the ban decision on screening issued by the Kadıköy District Governorship, BEKSAV had announced that did not recognize the ban decision and called all moviegoers and LGBTI+s to the screenings. And at the end BEKSAV and Cinema Collective members and participants who came for the screening were detained. Following the police violence, the foundation had said “We defend the colors of the rainbow against the LGBTI+ hostility of the government.”
CLICK – They’re being prosecuted for planning a screening during the banned Pride Week!
The first trial of the case, in which 8 people are being charged on the grounds of violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, had been heard on October 31. And the second hearing of the case was held on January 30.
CLICK – BEKSAV case was postponed to April 18
Tags: human rights, arts and culture
