The Gezi Park protests began in May 2013 as an effort by a group of environmentalists to save a park in central Istanbul from being rezoned, but soon grew into nationwide demonstrations. Police quelled the protests in Taksim Square with the use of tear gas and water cannons. Following a six-year investigation into the events, the 657-page indictment issued by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office was accepted by the 30th Assize Court in Istanbul on 4 March 2019.
The defendants are to be charged under Article 312 of the Turkish Criminal Code (attempt to overthrow the Turkish government or attempt to prevent it from fulfilling its duties), Article 151 (damage to property), Article 152 (qualified damage to property), Article 174 (possession or exchange of hazardous substances without permission), Article 153 (damaging places of worship and cemeteries), Article 149 (qualified robbery), Article 86 (intentional injury); crimes under the Law on Firearms, Knives and Other Tools No 6136 and crimes under the Law on Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets No 2863. The total sentence asked for by the prosecution for these offences amounts to approximately 47,520 years’ imprisonment.
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Notes to the Editor
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Since 1952 the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has performed a unique and prominent role as a nongovernmental organization defending human rights and the rule of law worldwide.
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