Started on Friday at Constantinople or trial of 189 people arrested during mass mobilizations against the Turkish government after the arrest of the city’s mayor, Imamoglou.

The demonstrations, which broke out on March 19, were organized as a reaction to the accusations of corruption attributed to Imoglou, who denies them. Imamoglou is considered a key opponent of Recep Tayyip Erdogan in view of 2028 election.

According to the BBC, the trial is held at Court of Appeal and is the first of a total of 20 criminal proceedings announced by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office, with a total of 819 defendants. Of the 189 who sat in the dock today, the majority are students, while eight are journalists.

The categories and penalties

The accusations they face include involvement in illegal rallies, a violation of public gatherings and a refusal to withdraw after police warnings. According to Human Rights Watch, the penalties range from six months to five years in prison.

A student of University of Istanbularrested in the Sarachchane district and held for 20 days, told BBC Turkish:

“I hope they will be withdrawn soon from this shame and acquit everyone today.”

A student of University Mimar Sinan He also stated:

“We’re not afraid. It is not us who must be afraid. “

The journalists and their defense

Among the defendants are found and 8 journalistsbetween them and the To be Akciul of French news agency AFPwho are accused of “participating in illegal gatherings without weapons and non -retirement after warning”.

Lawyer Weisel Ok asked the court their acquittal, arguing that the journalists were simply covering the facts and did not participate in them. In spite of the rejection of the request, the Union of Turkish Journalists (TGS) He announced that the eight journalists’ envelopes were detached from those of the students.

In accordance with Parent Solidarity Network (PSN)which was formed by student families, about 50 students They still remain in custody, and most of those arrested after March 19 have been released.

Her father Yagmour Guudoganheld in Silivri prisons and released recently, said:

“We stand by our children and we will continue to do it.”

THE Avni Guudogana member of PSN, said before the start of the hearing:

“Our children were involved in a peaceful and democratic protest, fighting for a free and democratic Turkey.”

Despite the ban on demonstrations throughout Constantinople by the local governor, hundreds of thousands of citizens participated in the mobilizations. Since March 19, Turkish authorities have arrested nearly 2,000 peoplemost of them students.