Latest news with #GeziPark
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Turkey: At least 87 protesters arrested, say lawyers
Police in Istanbul on Saturday arrested dozens of protesters commemorating the twelfth anniversary of a wave of anti-government protests, lawyers said. The Association of Progressive Lawyers said on X that "at least 87 people were arrested" in the Turkish city, scene of a fresh wave of protests in recent months. Several young people published a message on X saying: "We have been arrested." Police barriers stopped demonstrators from gathering at Taksim Square, adjacent to Gezi Park, a green space that was the heart of protests in 2013 over plans to redevelop it. Protesters instead gathered on Saturday evening on a street near the Beyoglu district, under banners that included: "Gezi remains" and "Resistance everywhere". Turkey has seen more than two months of protests since the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19 on corruption charges. Imamoglu, the most high-profile challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdgan, says the charges are politically motivated. Anadolu reported earlier Saturday that authorities had issued an additional 47 arrest warrants for municipal officials and staff across Istanbul.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Dozens detained in Istanbul during Gezi Park anniversary protest, say lawyers
ISTANBUL, June 1 — Police in Istanbul yesterday arrested dozens of protesters commemorating the 12th anniversary of a wave of anti-government protests, lawyers said. The Association of Progressive Lawyers said on X that 'at least 87 people were arrested' in the Turkish city, scene of a fresh wave of protests in recent months. Authorities made no public comment and the arrests were not mentioned by the state news agency Anadolu. Several young people published a message on X saying: 'We have been arrested.' Police barriers stopped demonstrators from gathering at Taksim Square, adjacent to Gezi Park, a green space that was the heart of protests in 2013 over plans to redevelop it. Protesters instead gathered yesterday evening on a street near the Beyoglu district, under banners that included: 'Gezi remains' and 'Resistance everywhere'. Turkiye has seen more than two months of protests since the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19 on corruption charges. Imamoglu, the most high-profile challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdgan, says the charges are politically motivated. Anadolu reported earlier yesterday that authorities had issued an additional 47 arrest warrants for municipal officials and staff across Istanbul. — AFP
Al Bawaba
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Bawaba
Halit Ergenç sentenced to prison over Gezi Park testimony controversy
ALBAWABA - Halit Ergenç faces legal consequences over Gezi Park testimony controversy. With a contentious issue, Turkey's press world has once again gained attention. A court order convicted well-known actor Halit Ergenç, who portrayed Suleiman the Magnificent in the historical drama "Magnificent Century," to one year and ten months in prison. Anadolu Agency gave this information. During the investigation, Ergenç was charged with making false statements. He was first given a sentence of two years and three months in prison by the Istanbul Court. However, because of his cooperation with the court and kind demeanor, his punishment was lowered. Actor Rıza Kocaoğlu was also given a prison term, but it was delayed because neither actor had a criminal history. Therefore, they will not be imprisoned for the time being. Halit Ergenç and Rıza Kocaoğlu Haber 7 The protests that started in Istanbul's Gezi Park in 2013 and developed into widespread anti-government rallies are the subject of this case. Originally motivated by environmentalist goals, these actions ultimately took on political significance. In this case, Halit Ergenç was asked to testify as a witness. He was questioned by the prosecutor's office on his connection to Mehmet Ali Alabora, an activist and actor who plays a pivotal role in the case. He didn't have a close relationship with her, Ergenç had said. Nevertheless, his claims were refuted by phone logs and collective photographs. Because Halit Ergenç made a false statement, the prosecutor's office asked that he be sentenced to two to four years in jail. Ergenç refuted the accusations at the hearing, claiming that he had not lied and had only responded to inquiries. He said that there was no intimate relationship and that his acquaintance with the other individuals in the file, particularly manager Ayşe Borim, was only surface-level. Ergenç said he regretted not submitting a counterclaim since the public misinterpreted his involvement in the events when the images and phone data were made public. This episode served as a reminder that celebrities are subject to the law, even if it initially appeared to be a typical tabloid news item. The public as well as Ergenç's supporters took notice of this matter when his name was brought up. His real-life circumstances showed a different side to him than his on-screen persona.
Khaleej Times
24-05-2025
- Khaleej Times
Turkish actors get suspended prison sentences in 2013 Gezi Park protests case
Two renowned Turkish actors Halit Ergenc and Riza Kocaoglu were handed suspended prison sentences on Thursday, May 22 after being found guilty of perjury in connection with the 2013 Gezi Park protests, media reports said. An Istanbul court ruled that both actors gave false testimony about their ties to fugitive actor Memet Ali Alabora during an investigation linked to the protests. Ergenc was sentenced to 1 year, 10 months and 15 days, while Kocaoglu received 1 year and 8 months. Prosecutors presented phone records and photographs showing their contact with Alabora, contradicting their claims of limited acquaintance. The court suspended the verdicts, meaning they will not serve time unless they reoffend during a probation period.
Express Tribune
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Trial opens for Turkish students, journalists
A trial of nearly 200 people, among them students and journalists, arrested over Turkey's biggest protests in more than a decade opened in Istanbul on Friday. In the dock are 189 suspects who were rounded up in a government crackdown on the protests, which erupted following the March 19 detention and subsequent jailing of Istanbul's opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. As the trial opened, the Caglayan courthouse was packed with family members, journalists, university lecturers and lawmakers from the main opposition CHP party, an AFP correspondent said. Most of the defendants were students, but among them were also eight Turkish journalists — including AFP photographer Yasin Akgul — who had been covering the biggest wave of street protests to grip Turkey since 2013. The suspects are facing a number of charges, notably "taking part in illegal rallies and marches" and "failing to disperse despite police warnings," court documents show. If convicted, they could face between six months to four years behind bars, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement. Addressing the court on behalf of the journalists, lawyer Veysel Ok called for their acquittal on grounds they were reporting the news of the protests. "They were there as journalists to cover the protests.. that's what they are paid for," he told the judge. The judge rejected the acquittal request but agreed to separate their file from that of the students. According to the indictment, their claim to be journalists "has not been counted" because the police did not establish that they were present for journalistic purposes, HRW said. "We want the journalists to be acquitted" because they are being tried on the basis of false evidence, Erol Onderoglu, the Turkey representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) told AFP. "Unfortunately, their prosecution is as arbitrary as their detention and arrest." For most of the youths, it was the first time they had joined a protest, as large-scale rallies have been largely non-existent since a government crackdown on the 2013 Gezi Park protests. "We want justice for our children. They need to be at their desks in university, not in prison," Avni Gundogdu, co-founder of The Parents' Solidarity Network, told AFP outside the court.
