Minors go on trial in Diyarbakir
Güncelleme Tarihi:
A Turkish court hearing got underway on Monday with 23 minors being put on trial in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir. The minors are up on charges of being members of an armed group among others such as violating the law on demonstrations. In total 80 youths are set to appear before the court on similar charges which relate to the deadly rioting that swept through the southeaster mainly Kurdish areas of the country. The remaining minors were expected to be brought to court in groups throughout the week.
Only the parents of the accused were allowed into Monday's hearing since the defendants were all minors.
Defense lawyers said they expected some of their clients to be released on bail.
If convicted, the minors face jail sentences of between nine and 24 years in prison.
Apart from the youths, prosecutors have also indicted 185 adults on similar charges and have called for sentences of between three years and life.
Riots erupted in Diyarbakir, the main town of the Kurdish region, on March 28 after youths demanding vengeance attacked the police following the funerals of PKK rebels killed in fighting with Turkish armed forces.
A total of 16 people, including three small boys, were killed when security forces opened fire and used tear gas to disperse crowds, which attacked the police and vandalized public buildings and shops.