The third hearing of the trial of 35 people charged with “participating in illegal gatherings and marches without weapons and refusing to disperse despite warnings” after a rally held in Saraçhane on July 1, 2025, was held on February 26 at the Istanbul 64th Criminal Court of First Instance. The defendants, including Cumhuriyet reporter Engin Deniz İpek, requested acquittal. The prosecutor sought separate penalties for the defendants for violating Law No. 2911. During the hearing, objections were raised to some of the identifications in the expert report, and it was noted that a female defendant was described in the report as having a “walnut-shaped mustache.” The court adjourned the decision hearing until March 4, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
February 26, 2026
MLS Turkey