Turkish court sentences 244 to jail over 2013 protests: newspaper
Source: Reuters
World | Fri Oct 23, 2015 3:54pm EDT
Turkish court sentences 244 to jail over 2013 protests: newspaper
ISTANBUL
A Turkish court on Friday sentenced 244 people to up to 14 months in jail over protests in 2013 that began as a bid to stop the redevelopment of an Istanbul park and spiraled into the worst political unrest for years, a major newspaper reported.
Some 255 people had been charged with crimes such as damaging public property and taking part in illegal protests, and judicial authorities sought jail sentences of up to 11 years, according to the Hurriyet Daily News.
The demonstrations over Istanbul's Gezi Park and the police crackdown captured international attention and sparked concern about growing authoritarian rule in Turkey. President Tayyip Erdogan dismissed the protesters as "riff raff" and terrorists.
The unrest spread to cities around the country.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/23/us-turkey-protests-court-idUSKCN0SH2FU20151023