Students' 9-Hour In Handcuffs Detention Photo Criticized

- More than 20 students at Istanbul University were detained on suspicion of helping the courthouse attack.

A photo showing them laying on the floor of the university building handcuffed behind the back was widely criticized on social media April 2. Quoting one of the students, Bianet news website reported April 2 that the students waited in handcuffs for nine hours before they testified.

Tensions have also risen after a new body search process was implemented by security forces on lawyers entering Istanbul’s Çağlayan courthouse after the death of the prosecutor.

Following the hostage situation in the courthouse, security forces began searching lawyers with hand detectors, while angered lawyers have demanded to speak directly with a prosecutor on the issue.

Since the implementation of the new procedure lawyers and security forces have occasionally clashed, as many lawyers have been forced to wait in a long queue outside the courthouse.

In addition, the lawyers denounced the new regulation, saying it is illegal to search lawyers with hand detectors and X-ray equipment.