Six Protestors Arrested after Unrest in Hopa

Six people were arrested on terror charges on Sunday (5 June) in the aftermath of the incidents in Hopa (Artvin, eastern Black Sea coast). A total of 31 people had been taken into police custody in the course of demonstrations before and after the visit of campaigning Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 31 May.

On Saturday (4 June), 16 of them were taken to the Special Authority 2^nd High Criminal Court of Erzurum to give their statements. The interrogation lasted till the morning hours. Ten people were released from custody thereupon. The remaining six were arrested under allegations of "demonstrating without permission", "resistance against public officials on duty" and "harming public property".

Defence lawyer Sema Pekdaş explained, "The court dropped the terror charges imputed on the defendants. First of all, the 16 out of a group of 31 people were interrogated by the prosecutor since they had been kept in police custody for four days already. Ten of them were released, six of them were taken to court under allegations of membership in a terrorist organization".

Pekdaş continued, "The hearing lasted till the morning. As a result, the court board dropped charges of membership in a terrorist organization and arrested six persons on charges of demonstrating without permission, resistance against public officials on duty and harming public property. A further 15 people will be taken to court on Sunday afternoon".

The people arrested are Ali Aksu, Şinasi Gümüşkaya, Şafak Ustabaş, Önder Öner, İdris Akbıyık and İbrahim Aksu who has reportedly suffered a broken rib.

The Erzurum court decided to release Yavuz Yenigün, İsrafil Vayiç, Hakan Tantoğlu, Emrah Civelek, Murat Cihan, Metin Yılmaz, Erdoğan Ustabaş, Tanju Aksu, Emine Altınkaya and Hüseyin Ustabaş.

A delegation with representatives of the Human Rights Association (İHD), the Human Rights Foundation (İHV), the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and a number of lawyers will arrive in Hopa today (6 June). The delegation is going to talk to the people in custody and detention in Erzurum and Hopa and will issue a report on the incidents subsequently. (ŞA/VK)

Sources: DHA, sendika.org