12th hearing of Mavi Marmara criminal case which is heard by Istanbul 7th High Criminal Court is going to be held in Çağlayan Court at 9:30 am on Tuesday, 20th September 2016. A press meeting is going to take place in front of the Çağlayan Court at 11:00 am during the hearing. All members of the press are invited to the press meeting for press release about the ongoing case.
As it is widely known, Israeli Chief of Staff Rau Gabiel Ashkenazi, Commander of Naval Forces Eliezer Alfred Maron, Air Force Intelligence Director Avishay Levi and Israeli Intelligence Amos Yadlin are on trial. An Interpol notice was issued for these four defendants. The families of 10 martyrs killed on board Mavi Marmara flagship when it got attacked by Israeli military forces are following the trial. They will be present in the courtroom during this hearing as well. Also, total 748 victims including 56 persons all of them Turkish citizens except one Palestinian who were heavily injured during Israeli assault on the ship, world renowned leftist activists, Palestinian passengers of the flotilla, 430 victims from Turkey and 318 persons from 37 countries among whom there are MPs from various countries and legal bodies remain litigant and follower of this case. Moreover Palestinian leader Shaikh Raed Salah imprisoned in Israel, Mavi Marmara passenger and martyr Asma Biltaji’s father Muhammad Biltaji imprisoned in Egypt are among the litigants in this case. One of the most unique characters who stood as witness in the court and gave his testimony in the first hearing is Joe Maedors. Joe Maedors was attacked and injured by Israel in 1967 on board USA ship Liberty. Maedors is a strong believer that the justice will prevail in this case and is following the updates. The defendants are charged with crimes of instigation of murder in the first degree, torture, attempted murder of the first degree, qualified malicious wounding, malicious wounding, qualified robbery, high jacking maritime transportation vessels, qualified damage to property, deprivation of liberty, torment. Foreign victims and their representative lawyers are following the case. All members of the press are invited to the press meeting for the press release on the case followed by the international media. You are cordially invited.
Note: Mavi Marmara martyr Çetin Topçuoğlu’s wife Çiğdem Topçuoğlu is also going to attend the press meeting. Mrs. Topçuoğlu will also be on board on of the Women’s Boat to Gaza that left Barcelona on 14th September in order to break the blockade on Gaza. Women activists have set sail to Gaza with two ships named Amal-Hope and Zaytouna-Oliva. Women’s Boat to Gaza mission is organized by Freedom Flotilla Coalition where more than 10 countries have come together.
Venue: Çağlayan Court
Date: 20 September 2016 Tuesday
Time: 11.00
