Turkish police fire teargas to quell protests against court verdict

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Turkish police fire teargas to quell protests against court verdict

(Xinhua) 08:04, August 06, 2013

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ISTANBUL, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Turkish riot police fired teargas and water cannon to disperse tens of thousands of demonstrators who protested Monday against court verdict in a case of military coup plot in Istanbul.

The angry gathering, which was organized upon Turkey Youth Union's appeal, rallied in Kadikoy district to protest severe penalties inflicted on prominent figures, including journalists, academics and military officials.

Declaring they stand for freedom, protestors said they do not recognize the verdict.

After the police intervention, the crowd started to march to the busiest Bagdat Avenue.

For his part, Turkish main opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu slammed the court verdict, labeling the ruling as "illegitimate."

The ruling of the court "is not legitimate from a legal, political or moral point of view," head of the Republican People's Party, said in his first remarks after the verdict, denouncing the authority of "Courts for Serious Crimes," which deals with terrorism-related cases. On Monday, the court at Silivri Courthouse delivered its final verdict against 275 suspects accused of attempting to overthrow the Islamist government led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Among those sentenced to life in prison, are former Chief of the General Staff Ilker Basbug, who led the military between 2008 and 2010, and journalist Tuncay Ozkan, who helped organize a series of anti-government protests in 2007.

（Editor：YaoChun、Zhang Qian）