Put on trial for protesting withdrawal from İstanbul Convention, 33 women acquitted

* News: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)

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In the trial over the Ankara Women's Platform's protests against the withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention, 33 women, including Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Eylem Akdağ, stood before the judge at the Ankara 28th Criminal Court of First Instance today (March 23).

Women were charged with violating the Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations over their protests for the İstanbul Convention.

Lawyer Irmak Bakır, criticizing the police presence at the court hall, said, "Women were attacked by the security [forces]; so, the Security [Directorate] of Ankara is a side in this lawsuit. We do not want them to be in the courtroom". She requested that the police be taken outside the hall. Police officers were taken out of the room upon the request of the lawyers.

Constitutional right

Lawyer Çiğdem Kozan said that the question of "Did you hear a stop warning" specifically asked to women does not mean anything, given that holding meetings and demonstrations is a Constitutional right.

All lawyers also indicated that the police prevented the press members filming the moments when the police were battering women and added that the DVD submitted to the court as evidence by the police was not the raw video, but they edited the video in their own favor.

Lawyers requested the acquittal of the women on trial. Based on the expert report, the court has concluded that the elements of the offense charged were not constituted and acquitted all 33 women.

Turkey's withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention

Turkey has withdrawn from the İstanbul Convention with a Presidential decision published in the Official Gazette on March 20, 2021.

The decision in question said that "the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, which was signed by Turkey on May 11, 2011 and approved with the Cabinet Decree no. 2012/2816 on February 10, 2012, shall be terminated on the part of Turkey as per the Article 3 of the Presidential Decree no. 9."

The 10th Chamber of the Council of State finalized the court cases demanding the stay of execution and annulment of the Presidential decision withdrawing Turkey from the İstanbul Convention ahead of July 1, when the İstanbul Convention will no longer be in force in Turkey, according to the Article 80 of the Convention regarding denunciation.

By a vote of three to two, the 10th Chamber of the Council of State has rejected the requests for the stay of execution and annulment of the Presidential decision, which has pulled Turkey out of the İstanbul Convention, or the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence. (EMK/SD)