❝Gezi Has Invited Even the Court to Law❞

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Announcing its judgement in the lawsuit filed into Gezi resistance of 2013 today (February 18), the İstanbul 30th Heavy Penal Court has ruled that the files of seven defendants who are currently abroad shall be separated and the remaining nine defendants shall be acquitted.

CLICK - Verdict of Acquittal in Gezi Trial, Ruling of Release for Kavala

After the verdict of the court was shared with the public, several messages of support have been shared on social media:

'It shouldn't have been filed in the first place'

Pınar Öğün (a defendant of Gezi trial)

"Seven years have been pouring from my eyes... They do not subside. I embrace everyone expressing get well soon wishes deep inside."

* Mücella Yapıcı (Photo by Zeynep Kuray / Twitter)

Mücella Yapıcı (a defendant of Gezi trial)

"Gezi has invited even the court to law.'

Zülfü Livaneli (Musician/writer)

"There was no crime, they have suffered a lot, but our hearts are full of festivities today. Freedom to Osman Kavala. Gezi cannot be tried."

Yaman Akdeniz (Academic)

"The fact that Osman Kavala has been acquitted does not mean that he was fairly tried. The court should have ruled for his release pending trial after the first hearing."

Kerem Altıparmak (Legist)

"They have habituated people to the impossibility of a fair judgement to such an extent that we are all in a great surprise. The defendants will almost appeal against the verdict, asking the court 'Are you sure that you have given the right verdict?"

Faruk Bildirici (Journalist)

"The verdict of acquittal is a source of joy, but the fact that this lawsuit was filed, the ECtHR judgement was not abided by and it has ended in a surprising verdict of acquittal has once again manifested the state of judiciary in Turkey... This case should not have been filed in the first place. Gezi was a civilian protest of peaceful disobedience."

* Gülsüm Elvan (Mother of Berkin Elvan) and Mücella Yapıcı, Photo: Esin İleri/Twitter

'One of the best days of our lives'

Kati Piri

"The best news in a long time from Turkey! Osman Kavala acquitted and judge ordered his release."

US Embassy Turkey

"We have followed the trial of Osman Kavala and other civil society activists closely, and welcome today's court decision to acquit and release the defendants."

Sera Kadıgil (Main opposition CHP MP)

"I do not know whether I should feel happy that they have been acquitted of a crime that does not exist, whether I should get angry at the oppression they have been subjected to for years or whether I should feel sorry that Kavala was held behind bars for 28 months...

"Gezi was all of us!

"We were all there!

"They were one of the best days of our lives. You cannot steal them from us no matter what you do!"

Ekrem İmamoğlu (İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor)

"The acquittal of all the defendants in the #GeziPark trial is a true source of joy, and restores trust in the Turkish judicial system. I salute all those who stand to defend our city's history, culture and nature."

'I am sorry for the scandal of justice'

Mustafa Yeneroğlu (Former ruling AKP MP)

"I am very happy for the aggrieved that Osman Kavala, who has been arrested for 840 days and was facing aggravated life sentence, and his friends have been acquitted. However, I am very sorry for the scandal of justice. People should not be persecuted because some people want it. No one can have a monopoly on freedom."

Left Party

"Gezi is the people, it is honor and pride! Gezi is the left! It is the homeland. The fact that the trial that they pursued at the risk of everything has collapsed means that the lies of the government about Gezi resistance have collapsed as well."

'A day as happy as Gezi itself'

Redd (Music band)

"A day just as happy as Gezi itself."

Yıldırım Türker (Writer)

"You will now be called to account for our 840 days."

Serkan Altuniğne (Illustrator)

"They have imprisoned Osman Kavala for nothing for 28 months. Yes, the result is great and a great joy... But, 28 months, man... 28 MONTHS!"

Aykut Erdoğdu (Main opposition CHP MP)

"Long live the justice...

"I wish the same for all unjust trials."

Bülent Somay (Writer)

"Gezi has won. I wish everyone gets better soon. It is now the turn of the lawsuits against the ones who filed, continued and dragged this lawsuit."

Özgür Mumcu (Journalist and writer)

"At Gezi, we saw that we were greater, fraternal and stronger than we thought and than you thought. We saw that once, we will not forget it ever again. We were all at Gezi."

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP)

"We were all at Gezi. We were all there and we are honored to have been there. We are defending Gezi!"

(AÖ/SD)