Ref: 90/2012

Today, 6 November 2012, the first session of
the criminal trial into the Israeli assault on the humanitarian boat “Mavi
Marmara” – which killed nine Turkish nationals and injured many others – was
held at the Istanbul Çağlayan Courthouse.

The
Mavi Marmara was part of the “Gaza Freedom Flotilla” humanitarian convoy which
was attacked in international waters on 31 May 2010 by Israeli special military
forces while sailing towards the Gaza Strip.

The indictment, served by the Istanbul Office
of Public Prosecutor lists 490 individuals, including Mavi Marmara passengers
and relatives of the slain activists from 36 countries, as
“complainant-victim”. The accused parties are: the Israeli Chief of General
Staff, Rau Gavriel Ashkenazi; Naval Forces Commander, Eliezer Alfred Maron; Air
Forces Intelligence Director, Avishay Levi; and Chief of Israeli Military
Intelligence Amos Yadlin.

The suspects are being tried in accordance with
the Turkish Penal Code for voluntary manslaughter, attempted voluntary
manslaughter, intentionally causing grievously bodily harm, plundering,
abducting or confiscating maritime or railway transportation vehicles,
intentionally causing damage to property, deprivation of personal freedom, and
inflicting torture and maltreatment.

The trial will last for three days and is being
monitored closely by numerous human rights observers, media officials, and
lawyers from different countries.

Mr. Davide Tundo, a member of PCHR’s
International Unit, is attending the trial as an observer.

Ahead of the trial, on 5 November, Mr. Tundo
participated in a meeting with international lawyers, legal experts, and representatives of the Turkish legal team which
is representing the Turkish victims of the attack on the “Mavi Marmara”.
The meeting addressed legal actions taken at a national and international level
with regard to the “Mavi Marmara” case.