Gezi protesters detained and released in Ankara to face trial

ANKARA

A Public Prosecutor’s office in Ankara will launch a mass case against individuals accused of attending Gezi Park protests in the city, with nearly 500 people who were detained and released in early protests estimated to be tried in the case in Ankara alone.

One prosecutor has already opened six criminal files against some 137 individuals and a new mass case is set to begin soon, daily Cumhuriyet reported today.

The first case regarding the Gezi protests was launched after a protest on June 16 in Ankara’s central square Kızılay against some 35 people who assembled to denounce the fourth death since clashes between riot police and protesters began in Turkey.

Protests hit a peak on June 15 when Ethem Sarısülük, who was allegedly shot by a police officer in Ankara, was declared brain dead by his family, passed away on June 14.

The cases then followed one and another in rapid succession.

The indictment against the protesters is based on accusations of violations of a law on meetings and demonstrations (no. 2911), resisting security forces fulfilling their duty, and damaging public property.

Three separate cases were accepted by Ankara courts.

Gezi Park protests started May 27 when a group of activists from Taksim Solidarity, a civil group that had voiced criticism of the renovation plans all along, gathered in Gezi Park after bulldozers came to the area to cut down the trees in the park.

On May 31 police launched a violent dawn operation on occupier protesters in Gezi and dispersed a few hundred protesters from the park with tear gas and water cannons and burned their tents. Protesters set up barricades around the empty park.

Then the protests spread across Turkey and continued for nearly two months.

Some six people were killed and thousands have been injured.