Families Waiting Outside Istanbul Courthouse: What Is This Justice? What Do We Do Now?
Families anxiously wait outside Istanbul's courthouse, seeking justice and answers after their children were detained during recent protests. As frustrations rise, many worry about the legal and personal consequences.
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Families Waiting Outside Istanbul Courthouse: 'What Is This Justice? What Do We Do Now?'
YEREL GÜNDEM / TÜRKİYE
In front of the massive Istanbul Courthouse, a concerned crowd gathers, their eyes and ears fixed on the potential news from inside. Police barriers stand tall as families and friends anxiously wait for news of their loved ones being processed inside.
Since the arrest of Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 19, protests have led to the detention of many young people. After completing police procedures, these detainees are brought to the courthouse to face prosecutors.
As the detained individuals face the judge, their families wait outside or gather at nearby cafes. The cycle of arrivals and departures continues, and with each new arrival, the waiting crowd shifts and changes.
The worry has been ongoing for days, as relatives eagerly await any updates on their loved ones. Some families hold flowers, which they will present to their relatives upon their release, embracing them with joy and relief.
'They Took My Daughter From Her Home'
Abdullah Şahin is one of the fathers waiting at the courthouse. His daughter, a sociologist, was detained after attending protests in Saraçhane. He had just learned that his daughter was released under judicial control moments before we started our conversation.
Despite the anxiety, he shares that the communication with his daughter’s lawyer went smoothly and that no mistreatment occurred. However, he heard from other families and lawyers that such issues were widespread.
“The climate of fear is over,” says Şahin, “because now, there is nothing left to fear.”
A little while later, Şahin’s daughter emerges from the courthouse, and the family embraces each other, a rare moment of joy amidst the ongoing tension. Despite his smile, Şahin remains critical of the broader situation: “They’ve released my daughter, but I demand that the intelligent youth of this country be released too. They are the bright future of this country.”
'My Son Was Arrested for Waving the Turkish Flag'
Ali Ünlü, another father, talks about his son, who was detained after waving the Turkish flag during a protest. Ünlü shows us a photo of his son, a physical education student, holding the flag at the Saraçhane protests.
He is visibly upset: “This is why my son was arrested. I can’t accept this,” he says, adding, “I hope they will correct this mistake.”
Ünlü hopes for a change of heart from the authorities.
'Now They Will Take My Child’s Scholarship Too'
Another family waits with their son, who has been detained. They discuss the next steps, including how the young detainee will be transferred to Silivri’s Marmara Prison. While family members are in deep conversation with a group of lawyers, the mother sobs quietly, devastated by the situation.
A woman, holding her young child in one hand, clutches her phone with the other as she walks quickly toward the metrobus. “What will happen now? What do we do? How is this justice? They will take my child’s scholarship too,” she says, her voice filled with fear and confusion.
'Bruised Noses, Split Eyebrows'
Some young people wait for news from their friends, holding each other in solidarity. Others, like Zeynep Yılmazer Aka, a lawyer specializing in the legal process of detained students, explain that the detention rate for young people—many aged between 18 and 25—is alarmingly high. Most have been arrested for charges such as insulting the president or participating in unregistered demonstrations, which many believe to be “crimes without serious consequences.”
Yılmazer Aka emphasizes that the excessive number of detentions is a form of punishment rather than justice, criticizing the system for prioritizing detention over judicial control. She also mentions that many young detainees have experienced abuse while in custody, with reports of beatings, the use of excessive force, and even broken noses or split eyebrows.
Although the General Directorate of Security denied the allegations of mistreatment, calling them "base lies," the families continue to seek answers, frustrated and worried about the future.
As the judicial process continues, more young people will soon face their fate in the courts, and the waiting continues for their families. Some hope for justice, while others are left to cope with the harsh reality of a system they feel has betrayed them.
