Youth association members face 'terror' charges for singing songs, wearing certain colors

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A lawsuit has been filed against 12 members of the Youth Associations and Federation on charges of "being a member of a terrorist organization" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization."

The indictment lists various activities of these individuals, including "singing songs, writing press releases, and drawing pictures."

Lawyer Doğa İncesu, who took up the case, told bianet, "The indictment considers singing Grup Yorum songs, keeping rhythm, and wearing khaki-green-colored clothing as criminal acts. It even alleges that individuals dressed in khaki could engage in activities in the 'armed propaganda units of the organization.' Selling a poetry book written by a client's sister was also included as part of the charges."

"Disrupting the balance between the state and society"

The indictment claims that the defendants have taken refuge behind "democratic concepts like demanding rights" and that their actions were intended to "transform the demonstration into acts of civil disobedience in a manner that disrupts the existing balance between the state and society, in line with the goals of the terrorist organization."

It is further alleged that these actions were "published for the purpose of terrorist propaganda and intended to create the impression that such actions were legal."

The indictment also points out that the promotion or glorification of the violent methods of terrorist organizations, or encouraging the use of such methods, could take various forms, including carrying banners, singing songs, writing press releases, writing articles, and drawing pictures.

Seven of the defendants were detained on December 15, 2022, and subsequently arrested four days later.

Some of the arrestees from İstanbul were transferred to prisons in various provinces, including Antalya Type-S Prison, the Kandıra No. 1 Type-F Prison in Kocaeli, the Samsun Kavak Type-S Prison, and the Antalya Manavgat Type-S Prison.

The first hearing of the trial is scheduled for September 27, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the İstanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court. (AS/VK)