The second hearing of the trial of 53 people detained during the 23rd Istanbul Pride March was held on December 25 at the Istanbul 51st Criminal Court of First Instance. Before and during the hearing, heavy police cordons were set up around the courthouse, and journalists and observers were prevented from entering the courtroom. The defendants and their lawyers stated that they had been subjected to torture and ill-treatment during their detention and that they had not been informed of the ban. The court decided to postpone the hearing until June 5, pending the submission of incomplete defenses and the evaluation of the testimony of police officers on duty on the day of the incident.
December 25, 2025
MLSA Turkey
