A test of nearly 200 people arrested in protests against the Turkish government has opened in Istanbul.
The mass demonstrations began on March 19, after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained on corruption charges, which he denies.
Most of the 189 defendants in the trial they opened on Friday at the Caglassian Court of Justice are students, while eight are journalists.
The allegations against them include participation in illegal protests after repression of public gatherings and fails to disperse despite warnings.
He notes the first process of those arrested in the rallies. The Istanbul prosecutor's office said 819 people would be tried in 20 criminal investigations.
The sanctions on the allegations range from six months to five years' imprisonment, according to Human Rights Watch.
A student at the University of Istanbul, who was arrested for protests in the Istanbul area in Sarasan and spent 20 days in prison, told BBC Turkish: “I hope they will turn from this shame as soon as possible and decide to justify everyone today.”
A second year student at Mimar Sinan University, whose hearing was scheduled, said, “We have no fear, we are not the ones who should be afraid.”
According to information provided to the BBC Turkish by the Parent Solidarity Network (PSN), which was created by students' families, most of the arrested after March 19 have been released in recent days, but about 50 students remain in custody.
Before the hearing on Friday, PSN member Avni Gundogan said: “Our children were involved in a democratic, peaceful and legal action, they fought for this country to be a free and democratic country.”
The father of Yamur Gundogan, who was arrested, taken to Silivri prison and recently released, said: “We stood with our children and will continue to do so.
“The first hearing begins today. We want justice and a just process for our children.”
Journalists – including French reporter of AFP Yasin Akgül news agency – They were also detained on “participation in unarmed meetings and marches against the law and did not scatter themselves, despite the warnings.”
On Friday, lawyer Weisel OK asked the judge to justify them on the grounds that they reported not participating in the protests, the AFP news agency said.
While the request was rejected, the Turkish Union of Journalists (TGS) said on social media that the dossiers of eight journalists had been separated from those of students.
The Imamoğlu was to run for the 2028 election presidency. His supporters saw his arrest as Erdogan's political move.
Although Istanbul's governor announced a ban on demonstrations and gatherings throughout the province, hundreds of thousands of people participated in the protests.
Since March 19, police have detained nearly 2000 people – many students.