Turkey: Court rules Gezi Park suspect stay in jail

ISTANBU

Istanbul court on Tuesday ruled that Osman Kavala, a businessman, to remain in custody in Gezi Park trial, according to judicial sources.

Another suspect, Yigit Aksakoglu, was released but his trial will continue, said the source who asked not to be named due to restriction on speaking to media.

The next hearing will take place on July 18 and 19 in Istanbul.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has sent an indictment to the Istanbul 30th High Criminal Court on March 4, recommending aggravated life term for all the defendants charged with "an attempt to overthrow Turkish government".

In summer of 2013, relatively small demonstrations in Istanbul’s Gezi Park grew into a nationwide wave of protests against the government that left eight protesters and a police officer dead.

*Writing by Busra Nur Bilgic