Police Ousts Advocates, Bar Chairman From Courthouse With Shields

Advocates who refuse to enter Istanbul Courthouse through x-ray machines have been ousted from the premises this afternoon.

The incident took place as dozens of advocates affiliated with Istanbul Bar Association protested the x-ray machine requirement to enter Istanbul Courthouse premises. 

Upon that, Istanbul Bar Association Presindet Ümit Kocasakal approached to head of riot police forces that were stationed inside the premises. Various onlookers shared their videos online on how the group that Kocasakal was in have been pushed out of the courthouse premisses before Kocasakal finished his talk. 

On March 31, Prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz has been killed after being held hostage by the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Front (DHKC) militants.

Surveillance camera footage demonstrated that DHKC members entered the high security building disguising themselves as advocates. 

Following the killing of Kiraz, Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office released a guideline that required all advocates to go through x-ray machines prior to entering the Istanbul Courthouse premises. 

Advocates, on the other hand, have been protesting the regulations ever since its rumors spread yesterday. 

“If police treats a group including me this way, I don’t know how they behave advocates anytime,” Istanbul Bar Association President Ümit Kocasakal said. (NV/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.