Pepper Gas Intervention in "Return to Life" Case Hearing

Gendarmerie forces intervened advocates and families of defendants who are standing trial over the Operation “Return to Life” at Ümraniye Prison on the 81st hearing held by Istanbul 5th High Criminal Court. Family members of defendants were affected by pepper gas bombs and violence. 

“We tried to get in the middle when police attempted to attack family members of defendants. When we entered the courtroom, an argument broke and they locked us down there. Gendarmerie forces sprayed pepper gas on defendants and their advocates. They were attacked,” advocate Evrim Deniz Karatana told bianet. 

She also added that they were locked down in the courtroom for 15 minutes and had to find their way out by forcing the door. Defendants were transferred to a detention room later on. 

Trial rescheduled 

While the judge panel received defendant advocates back into the room, advocates refused to proceed without their defendants present. The hearing was rescheduled to October 30. 

399 defendants are currently charged with launching a rebellion” in Ümraniye Prison between December 19 - 22 - an incident that left 30 dead including 28 inmates after 20,000 troops violently intervened. 

While the court has yet to reach a verdict for 10 years, today’s hearing was attended by 24 defendants (with different charges and convictions) and their families. 

Both panel and prosecutor on prosecution

In another case where 267 military staff are being tried, Turkey’s Higher Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) prosecuted the judge panel of “Return to Life” case. 

Güçlü Sevimli, one of the joint attorneys and currently jailed for 4 months, submitted a complaint, claiming that the judge panel was not “objective and independent”.  

“None of the defendants testified before the court. Especially panel judge Osman Çavuşoğlu took the side of suspects with military background,” he stated. 

Other joint attorneys also said that those defendants with military background did not appear before court for 4 years and attorneys did not have the chance to question them. During the Operation “Return to Life”, several raid plans were made to suppress the “rebellion”.  Joint attorneys also added that none of the raid plans (which were called “Bora” and “Atmaca”) were processed and all their requests were rejected. 

Another plan (Tufan) was investigated by Prosecutor Ali İhsan Demirel, whom later on was prosecuted for charges related to “abusing his duties” within the permission of HSYK. (AS/BM)