Prosecutors demand five years in prison for ‘girl with red foulard’ and other four Gezi protesters

ANTALYA– Doğan News Agency

Ayşe Deniz Karacagil’s interrogation, during which her red scarf was linked with socialism, became infamous during the Gezi protests. DHA Photo

Prosecutors in the southern province of Antalya have demanded five years in prison for five Gezi protesters who participated in demonstrations held after the death of a protester in Hatay last September.

One of the defendants is Ayşe Deniz Katacagil, a young protester who spent four months in custody and became publicly known as “the girl with the red foulard” as police and prosecutors linked the color of her scarf with socialism during her interrogations.

All five face between one and three years for charges of “opposing the Assembly Law” and two years for damaging a stand belonging to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Lawyers for four of the defendants rejected the lawsuit, emphasizing that a trial on similar charges was underway.

“The prosecutor who opened the first lawsuit was specially authorized by laws on fight against terrorism. This second prosecutor is responsible for organized crime. They both have no knowledge of the facts and of each other,” said lawyer Hakan Evcin.

He said the second lawsuit against Karacagil and another protester should be invalidated according to law.

“If there had been an interrogation or if the prosecutors would have followed the press, they would see that there is an ongoing trial,” Evcin said.

Karacagil’s interrogation became infamous during the Gezi protests and was even turned into a theater play by a troupe.