HÜDA PAR demands release of protesters arrested for criticizing trade with Israel

The protesters were detained on November 29 during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's address at the TRT World Forum. They were accused of "insulting the President" after chanting slogans like “Ships are carrying bombs to Gaza,” in reference to trade between Türkiye and Israel. Following a three-day detention, they were formally arrested on December 2 on charges of violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations.

HÜDA PAR's statement highlighted that its Human Rights Commission visited the detained individuals—Gülşah Eldemir, Cemile Akça, Şeyma Yıldırım, Mürüvvet Sena Eliküçük, Fadime Merve Erdem, Fatma Dilara Gezmişoğlu, and Çile Uğur—at Marmara (Silivri) Prison. The statement emphasized that the detainees considered their arrests an honor, as they were advocating for Gaza and opposing trade with the "genocidal Israeli terror regime."

“They stressed that their only hope is for Gaza to remain on the global agenda and for Türkiye to cease all trade with Israel,” the statement read. “Handcuffing those who raise their voices for Gaza is equivalent to handcuffing conscience. These unjust arrests, which have no legal basis, must end immediately.”

The arrests have sparked further debate about freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest in Türkiye, particularly as the situation in Gaza continues to generate strong reactions worldwide. HÜDA PAR reiterated its call for the release of the protesters and an end to the "unjust detentions." (ILKHA)