Acquittal of 120 people in Saraçhane protests: The court said, 'There was no ban, no crime occurred'

The reasoned decision of the case in which 120 people were tried due to the protests that started after the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor and Presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu was announced.

In the case heard at the Istanbul 71st Criminal Court of First Instance, the defendants were accused of "participating unarmed in unlawful meetings and marches and not dispersing despite the warning" due to the protest held in front of Cevahir Shopping Mall in Şişli on March 27, 2025. Punishment was also sought against 17 of the defendants for allegedly hiding their identities by covering their faces.

The court decided to acquit all 120 defendants on October 26, 2026.

“THERE WAS NO DEMONSTRATION BAN”

In the reasoned decision, it was stated that the Istanbul Governorship's ban on demonstrations ended at 23.59 on March 26, and that there was no ban decision on March 27, when the protest was held.

The court noted that the protesters did not act violently against the police, and that it could not be determined whether the announcements to disperse were heard by the participants.

It was also evaluated that a crime did not occur for the 17 people who were also tried on the grounds that they covered their faces, because the demonstration was not against the law and the purpose of hiding their identities could not be demonstrated with evidence.

THE PROSECUTOR ALSO REQUESTED ACQUITTAL

In his opinion on the merits, the prosecutor stated that there was not sufficient and definitive evidence to require the defendants to be punished and asked for their acquittal.