The trial of nearly 200 individuals who were arrested during protests against the Turkish government has officially begun in Istanbul. These mass demonstrations erupted on March 19, following the detention of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem mamolu, a significant political challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdoan. mamolu was detained on corruption charges, which he has vehemently denied.

The initial trial, which commenced on Friday at the Caglayan courthouse, involves 189 defendants, the majority of whom are students. Among those on trial, eight are journalists facing charges that include participation in illegal protests and failing to disperse when ordered to do so during a governmental crackdown on public gatherings.

This trial marks a pivotal moment as it is the first legal proceeding against those arrested during the protests. The Istanbul prosecutor's office has indicated that a total of 819 individuals are set to be prosecuted across 20 separate criminal investigations related to these events. Human Rights Watch has noted that the potential penalties for the charges could range from six months to five years in prison.

One of the students who faced arrest during the protests in Istanbul's Sarahane district recounted their experience to BBC Turkish, stating, "I hope they will turn back from this shame as soon as possible and decide today to acquit everyone." Another student from Mimar Sinan University, who was present for the trial, expressed defiance, asserting, "We have no fear, we are not the ones who should be afraid." According to the Parents Solidarity Network (PSN), a group formed by the families of the detained students, most of those arrested after March 19 have recently been released, although around 50 students still remain in custody.

Before the hearing commenced, PSN member Avni Gndoan emphasized the peaceful nature of the protests, stating, "Our children were involved in a democratic, peaceful and legitimate action; they fought for this country to be a free and democratic state." The father of one of the detained students, Yamur Gndoan, who was taken to Silivri Prison but has since been released, expressed unwavering support, saying, "We have stood by our children and will continue to do so. The first hearing begins today. We want justice and a fair trial for our children."

The group of journalists, including Yasin Akgl from the French news agency AFP, were detained under allegations of "participating in unarmed meetings and marches against the law and not dispersing on their own despite warnings." On Friday, defense attorney Veysel Ok requested the judge to dismiss charges against these journalists, arguing that they were merely reporting on the protests rather than taking part in them. This request, however, was denied. The Turkish Journalists Union (TGS) later announced on social media that the cases of the eight journalists had been separated from those of the students, indicating a distinct legal approach for the media personnel involved in the protests.