Activist Detained in Pride Parade Wins Lawsuit for Compensation

Source: Kaos GL, Photo: Evrim Kepenek / bianet

Click to read the article in Turkish

Aslı Yasemin, an activist who was detained during an LGBTİ+ Pride Parade in İstanbul, has won a lawsuit she filed for police violence.

She was among the detained on June 25, 2017, when the police intervened in the Pride March in İstanbul, the Kaos Gl reported. The police used violence on Yasemin while detaining her.

CLICK - Police Intervene in 2017 Pride Parade

She was released on the same day and a case was opened against her and those detained during the pride for violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations.

İstanbul 48th Penal Court of First Instance acquitted Yasemin on May 7, 2019. After the verdict became final on October 14, 2019, Yasemin's attorney Bülent Çoban filed a case for damages against the State Treasury. She alleged that she suffered spiritual damages during her detention and the officials' arbitrary, harsh and unlawful attitude caused a negative impact on her health.

Considering the period that Yasemin was wrongfully held in custody, her social status, and the negative impact caused by wrongful roundup and detention, she demanded the Treasury pay six thousand lira (986 US dollars) for compensation and pay the court costs.

Partly accepting her demand, Ankara 5th Heavy Penal Court ruled that Yasemin shall be paid 600 lira for compensation and her attorney fee shall be paid.

Yasemin and her attorney will appeal the decision because of the low amount of compensation.

What happened?

After the Governor of İstanbul banned the LGBTİ+ Pride 2017, police had closed İstiklal Avenue in Taksim, the place the Pride Parades had been held for years.

Numerous activists trying to march on the avenue were detained. Police used violence on the activists and handcuffed the detained people behind their backs. Some of the detainees said they were made to listen to the Quran during detention. (EMK/VK)