Reacting to the acquittal at the retrial of Mücella Yapıcı, Hakan Altınay and Yiğit Ekmekçi, whose initial convictions and 18-year prison sentences in connection with mass protests in 2013 were overturned in September 2023, Milena Buyum, Amnesty International’s Senior Türkiye Campaigner, said:
“Today’s decision brings an end to the politically motivated prosecution of Mücella Yapıcı, Hakan Altınay and Yiğit Ekmekçi, and the chronicle of injustice they have suffered. Over the course of more than seven years, prosecuting authorities repeatedly failed to provide credible evidence to substantiate the baseless charges laid against them. They should never have been subjected to any charges, let alone spent any time in prison.
These acquittals must now be followed by the immediate release of Osman Kavala and the other four Gezi prisoners of conscience who remain behind bars
“Their unfair prosecution – and that of the other five Gezi Park defendants – not only resulted in grave violations of their rights, but also became a shameful example of the way in which Türkiye’s justice system is used as a tool of political repression.
“Their acquittals must now be followed by the immediate release of Osman Kavala and the other four Gezi prisoners of conscience who remain behind bars.”
Speaking to Amnesty International, Mücella Yapıcı said: “It is very hard to feel happy when all others are still behind bars. Why are they still imprisoned when they are as innocent as us? I want to thank everyone who stood by us and supported us during this thoroughly unfair prosecution.”
Background
See here for information about the prosecutions of Mücella Yapıcı, Hakan Altınay, Yiğit Ekmekçi, Çiğdem Mater, Tayfun Kahraman, Mine Özerden, Can Atalay and Osman Kavala.
Osman Kavala remains in prison despite two binding European Court of Human Rights judgments. Can Atalay remains behind bars despite two equally binding Constitutional Court rulings which remain unimplemented.
