Not Crime to Wear Helmet on May Day, Court Rules

Detained in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district according to violating Law No 2911 on Public Gatherings and Demonstrations, 9 defendants charged with wearing construction helmets, diving goggles, gas masks and eye solutions during May Day protests this years have been acquitted as their acts “didn’t constitute a crime”.

Istanbul 42^nd Assize Court acquitted the aforementioned defendants on the third hearing of their tribunal. 

Some of the evidence against the defendants were presented as follows:  construction helmets, diving goggles, gas masks, eye solutions, construction gloves, red handkerchief, paper masks and vinegar bottles. 

"Not demonstrated in the designated areas"

Public Prosecutor Gökalp Kökçü, author of case indictment, claimed that the aforementioned defendants chose to protest in Beşiktaş district even though authorities designated the squares in Kadıköy, Maltepe and Fatih available for May Day demonstrations. 

He also claimed that they committed a crime in Beşiktaş as the governor’s office clearly pointed out that no demonstrations would be allowed in the Taksim Square Area - a district in 5 km radius to Beşiktaş. 

Prosecutor charged the defendants of property damage on police and municipality vehicles, however he didn’t present any evidence or footage to support his claims. 

Prosecutor: No crime 

On today’s hearing, defendants made their last defense and claimed that they were innocent. 

“We were detained by the police without a warning and we were transferred to a police station,” they said. 

Case prosecutor Seyfettin Atıcı requested the acquittal of defendants, saying that there is no evidence for committing a crime.

Judge Gönül Doğan ruled the acquittal of the defendants Ahmet Baba, Deniz Edebali, Doğa Özer, Fettah Alim, İbrahim Doğan, Kenan Çorlu, Levent İncedere, Özkan Akçay and Uğur Öztürk. (AS/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.