Probe Opened Into 94 People Two Years After Gezi Protests

- A probe has been opened into 94 people for participating in the Gezi Park protests more than two years after the events, with the suspects facing up to six years in prison.

Public Prosecutor Cevdet Aydemir opened a probe into 94 people who attended a protest in the western province of İzmir in June 2013, seeking prison terms up to six years for each with charges of violating assembly and demonstrations laws.

The incident took place on June 1, 2013, in İzmir’s Gündoğdu Square when a group of people organized via social media gathered to support the ongoing protests in Istanbul’s Gezi Park. The group increased to around 10,000 people whom marched to Kıbrıs Şehitleri Street. Around 2,000 people continued to protest by installing barricades on the streets against police officers. Clashes between the police and the protesters continued until late in the day and ended when the police detained 94 people.

The Gezi Park incidents began as a peaceful protest against a shopping mall construction project in Istanbul’s central Taksim neighborhood before turning into country-wide protests against the government.

The first trial was held at İzmir’s 5th Court of Serious Crimes on Sept. 21, when the suspects said they had used their democratic right to demonstrate and rejected the accusations.

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