On July 8, 2023, the first hearing of the lawsuit filed against 5 police officers who detained lawyer Murat Çelik by beating him during the Saturday Mothers’ protest in Beyoğlu, Istanbul.
The prosecutor’s office demanded jail sentences from 2 years and 3 months to 4 years and 6 months on the charges of “exceeding the limit of the authority to use force” and “intentional injury”.
Istanbul 62nd Criminal Court of First Instance accepted the participation request of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations and Istanbul Bar Association.
The court rejected the request for the defendant police officers to be brought to court by force and adjourned the hearing to February 18, 2026.
The hearing was followed by many lawyers, human rights organizations and bar association representatives.
October 9, 2025
Cumhuriyet