Statement on ‘Gezi Indictment’ by Taksim Solidarity

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Taksim Solidarity platform has responded to the indictment filed into the Gezi Park protests and the charges brought against them and the resistance.

Making a statement on social media, Taksim Solidarity has indicated that "they will not let their democratic rights and demands be smeared."

CLICK - Charges in Gezi Indictment: 'Influence Agency', 'Using Method of Civil Insurrection'

"It was on a legitimate and constitutional basis"

Here are some of the highlights from the statement:

"Though the Gezi Resistance is one of the brightest and most honorable pages of our history of society, city and democracy, there is an insistence on incriminating and smearing it as well as an attempt to show the demands for fundamental rights as elements of crime and to distort the historical and legitimate reality of the peaceful resistance.

"While the perceptions systematically imposed since 2013 are not given credit by the society and public, it is also confirmed by court verdicts that Gezi Resistance was done on a highly legitimate and constitutional basis within the scope of democratic rights and freedom of expression.

"With these systematic smear and defamation efforts, they want to rewrite the honorable history of Gezi with lies and attempt to silence and oppress all democratic forces trying to give hope in the face of injustice, unlawfulness, arbitrariness, imposition and pressures.

"We clearly see this malicious campaign despite its all dirtiness and absolutely reject it. We will not let you turn the Gezi Resistance into a protest associated with crime, terror and coup. #WeWereAllinGezi"

Gezi resistance called 'insurrection' in indictment

The preparation of the indictment filed as part of the investigation into the Gezi Park protests was completed on February 20, 2019 and accepted by the İstanbul 30th Heavy Penal Court on March 4.

The indictment alleges that "the foundation of [Gezi resistance] was laid in 2011 and attempted to be staged in May 2013" and demands that 16 people, some of whom are members of the Taksim Solidarity platform, be sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment.

While the indictment also claims that the suspects "engaged in influence agency", it refers to Gezi Park protests as an "insurrection."

The first hearing of the case will be held on June 24, 2019. (AS/SD)