Record sentence request for 52 people: 15 thousand 444 years
VAN (DİHA) - 52 people were taken under custody in Erciş district of Van for participating in the 6-8 October uprising, and have been sued for 297 years each totaling 15 thousand 444 years. Lawyer Baran Bilici stated that police reports were used as evidence in the bill of indictment unlawfully accepted by the court.
A group of people in the Erciş district of Van protested ISIS gangs’ attacks on Kobanê between 6-8 October, 2014. Erciş Public Prosecution Office prepared a 50 pages bill of indictment for these 52 people, majority of who were Kurdish politicians. There are no photos or video footage confirming the participation of these people, and the only documents submitted as proof are police reports.
15 thousand 444 years in prison
Charges against the 52 people vary from “Propagating for an organization” and “Being a member of an armed group” to “Harming public property” and “Participating in a march or meeting.”
'Walking on the street was enough of a reason for prosecution'
Lawyer Baran Bilici stated that walking past protestors on the street was enough of a reason for prosecution, and each defendant was charged on 11 separate charges for 297 years. Bilici said that the prosecuted Kurdish parliamentarians did not participate in any act of incineration. Bilici stated that to the contrary, there are photos of 8 tear gas canisters in AKP district building, and it was the police that incinerated property with tear gas attacks. Bilici described the prosecution as provocation, and reminded that police panzers in front of the governor’s office had not intervened in the fire on purpose.
Bilici described the bill of indictment as unlawful and stated that the case illustrated the state’s approach towards civilians as enemy combatants.
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