Trial of anti-nuclear protestors ends in acquittal

* Photo: NKP İstanbul Twitter account

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On the 10th anniversary of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster in Japan on March 10, the members of the Anti-Nuclear Platform (NKP) wanted to make a press statement in front of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, which was still in construction in Mersin in southern Turkey.

With the press statement prevented by the police, 17 anti-nuclear protestors were also put on trial on charge of "violating the Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations". All 17 NKP members were acquitted at their second and final hearing yesterday (November 16).

In the trial heard by the Gülnar Criminal Court of First Instance, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Ecology Co-Spokespersons Menekşe Kızıldere and Naci Sönmez, Labor Party Vice Chair Sedat Başkavak and Human Rights Association Mersin Branch Co-Chair Zeynep Benli were defendants. Besides them, NKP members and lawyers also attended the hearing.

'We are here due to a non-committed crime'

In her defense, HDP Ecology Co-Spokesperson Kızıldere said, "It is sad that we are here due to a non-committed crime. It is indeed sad that the ones who lay claim to nature are put on trial while there are so many criminals outside. What is put in the indictment is not a crime but a constitutional right. We wanted to fly balloons on the anniversary of Fukushima."

Labor Party Vice Chair Sedat Başkavak also underlined that holding an event is a constitutional right and added: "If we are to be penalized for laying claim to the soil, water, nature and environment of this country, so be it. We will keep on defending nature under any circumstances."

NKP's former spokesperson Aycan Özkan recalled that they made an invitation to fly balloons on the anniversary of Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan and underlined that a lawsuit being filed against them because of this shows the current state of the law in Turkey.

Lawyer Sevim Küçük, making defense at the hearing, criticized that the bill of indictment which was lodged without the statements of the defendants being taken, was not returned by the court board.

Stressing that everyone has the constitutional right to hold meetings and demonstrations without permission, lawyer Küçük demanded that the trial be ended as soon as possible and all defendants be acquitted.

The prosecutor's office presented its final opinion as to the accusations following the defense statements. Referring to Article 34 of Turkey's Constitution and Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the prosecutor said that the event was peaceful and the stipulation of "making a notification 48 hours prior" is a grave practice.

Following the prosecutor's opinion demanding the acquittal of the defendants, the court board handed down its ruling. Noting that what was done was a peaceful exercise of rights, the board acquitted all defendants.

What happened?

The members of the Anti-Nuclear Platform (NKP) wanted to make a press statement in front of the Mersin Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant on the 10th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. They wanted to raise concerns about the harms of nuclear power plants.

The statement was prevented by security forces; but a lawsuit was filed against the people over this press statement that could not be held. The first hearing was held at the 18th Criminal Court of First Instance on October 25. 17 NKP members made their defense at that hearing. Noting that the protest was prevented by security forces, they requested their acquittal. (KÖ/SD)

* Sources: MA, Yeşil Gazete