Şehir Hatları(ISTANBUL) – Four members of the Youth Union of Turkey (TGB) who unfurled a banner reading "NATO to the grave, fully independent Turkey" on a Şehir Hatları ferry to protest the NATO Parliamentary Summit in Istanbul have been released following their courthouse proceedings.
Numerous individuals protesting the NATO Parliamentary Summit at various locations across Istanbul were detained yesterday, with 89 people released today.
The TGB members were detained after displaying the "NATO to the grave, fully independent Turkey" banner from the Şehir Hatları ferry. It was reported that they were transferred to the Çağlayan Courthouse after processing at the police station.
"PROTESTING NATO IS NOT A CRIME"
Making a statement in front of the Çağlayan Courthouse, TGB President Kayahan Çetin said, "Protesting NATO is not a crime; it is a duty. The law of patriotism is above all laws. Our friends must be released immediately. This is our demand from Turkish prosecutors and the Turkish judiciary. We hope to share good news with you from here again."
A statement shared on TGB's social media account announced, "Our friends who were detained for protesting the NATO Parliamentary Summit in Dolmabahçe have been released."