Turkish police prevented the group gathered in front of the Istanbul Courthouse from making a press statement for the fifth hearing of the case against 46 Saturday Mothers activists, including the relatives of the disappeared. The hearing, which was held after the police intervened harshly on the group and arrested 14 people, was adjourned to 3 February 2023.
On August 25, 2018, Saturday Mothers’ 700th week action was banned by the Beyoğlu District Governor’s Office and a lawsuit was filed against those detained after the police intervened with tear gas.
The fifth hearing of the case was held at the Istanbul Courthouse 27th High Criminal Court in Çağlayan.
Before the hearing, representatives of human rights organisations, political parties and non-governmental organisations gathered in front of the courthouse to make a press statement on the case, but the police prevented the statement, citing the Kağıthane District Governor’s Office’s one-day ban. As the lawyers stated that the ban was unlawful, the police attacked the crowd waiting for the hearing time in front of the courthouse. A total of 14 people were detained as they were handcuffed behind their backs, which Turkish law stipulates should not be done without reason or for prolonged periods.
In the hearing held after the police intervention, the Co-Chair of the Human Rights Association (İHD) Lawyer Eren Keskin informed the court that they were not in a position to testify after the police intervention. Those on trial also stated that their lawyers were detained and requested additional time for their defence.
The court refused the Van Bar Association’s request to join the case and adjourned the case to February 3, 2023.