“Iftar Detainees” Sent to Courthouse

Detained on Saturday after police attacked their planned “Earth’s Kitchen” activity in Taksim Gezi Park, 6 individuals including one minor has been sent to Istanbul Courthouse this morning.

Towards 5 pm local time on Saturday, police closed down the park where Anticapitalist Muslims and People’s Democratic Congress were preparing to organize an Iftar - a meal eaten at sunset to break Ramadan fasting. 

Reacting upon police move, members of two groups including Peace and Democracy Party deputy Sebahat Tuncel started a sit-in protest for a while.  

“We requested to speak with Istanbul governor on the phone, but we were unable to do that. Since Gezi Park Resistance, they have the same attitude. We condemn governor’s attitude. People will just break their fasts here. We don’t demand anything. We want to break our fasts with our people here,” Tuncel said. 

Using their shields and occasionally tear gas, police pushed fasting demonstrators from Gezi Park to General Consulate of France - roughly 200 meters. 

HDK member Haluk Ağabeyoğlu and SYKP member Dilan Mehmetoğlu were among the detainees. 

Fasting demonstrators later on set up their “Earth’s Kitchen” on Istanbul Avenue. Following the iftar dinner, police maintained its detentions and attacks with TOMAs. 4 protestors including a minor have been detained. 

Detainees Haluk Ağabeyoğlu, Dilan Mehmetoğlu, Demircan Tetik, Anıl Odyakmaz, Ahmet Batal and minor child spent the night at a police station. This morning, they have been sent to Istanbul Courthouse for further judicial processing. 

Gezi Park, on the other hand, has been reopened to public towards 10pm on Saturday night. (AS/BM)

* Photo credit: Ahmet Saymadi.