Protests mark beginning of coup-plot case against Turkish fan group çArşı

A trial against 35 individuals associated with Beşiktaş’s football fan group çArşı on charges of “attempting to overthrow the government” during last year’s Gezi Park protests has started at Istanbul’s Çağlayan Courthouse.

The group received massive support from a crowd that included main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputies.

“çArşı is conscience and cannot be judged,” the crowd chanted.

The parents of Berkin Elvan, a 15-year-old killed by police on a street close to his house during the Gezi Park protests, were also among the çArşı supporters.

The court’s judge refused to carry the case to another location due to a lack of room, a decision that was mocked by the fans who chanted, “The court rules for no away game.”

Human Rights Watch said in a written statement that the allegations were "ludicrous."

“Charging these Beşiktaş football club fans as enemies of the state for joining a public protest is a ludicrous travesty,” said Emma Sinclair-Webb, the senior Turkey researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“The indictment contains no evidence to support the coup attempt charges and should never have come to court. The prosecutor should immediately indicate that he does not believe the charges should be pursued and ask the court for their acquittal,” Sinclair-Webb added.

The court accepted on Sept. 11 the indictment charging members of the çArşı of a “coup attempt” against the government.

The accusation against Beşiktaş’s iconic supporters group has been strongly criticized both domestically and internationally.

According to the indictment, çArşı members are accused of attempting to capture the Prime...