Thirty-five Turkish football fans have gone on trial in Istanbul accused of trying to overthrow the government during mass protests last year.<br /><br /> Prosecutors have demanded life sentences for all of them, members of a supporters’ group of major Istanbul team Beşiktaş.<br /><br /> Opposition and human rights groups have castigated the trial as an abuse of the justice system by a government bent on revenge.<br /><br /> Last year’s protests over the demolition of an Istanbul park grew into a nationwide wave of unrest amid a brutal police crackdown. <br /><br /> At least six protesters and one police officer died and thousands of people were hurt.<br /><br /> The “Çarşı” supporters, whose name derives from the Istanbul neighbourhood they come from, played a prominent role in the protests. <br /><br /> An anti-police slogan chanted at matches rang out regularly and atone point Çarşı members commandeered a mechanical digger and drove it towards police lines.<br /><br /> Prosecutors have cited gas masks and weapons seized from the defendants, as well as intercepted phone messages, as evidence.<br /><br /> President Erdogan has vowed to hunt down the “traitors” behind the demonstrations.<br /><br /> Outside the court there was a strong display of support for those on trial as Beşiktaş fans were joined by others from rival teams as well as trade unions, politicians and activists.<br /><br /> “They accuse Çarşı of attempting a coup,” said one demonstrator. “This is groundless. Çarşı is the consciousness of our people. We are here to support our friends.”<br /><br /> Human Rights Watch says to charge protesting football fans as enemies of the state is a “ludicrous travesty”.<br /><br /> The trial comes two days after the detention of prominent media figures sparked international condemnation.<br /><br /> The government insists the judiciary is independent, but that criminal elements among the protesters must be brought to justice.<br /><br /> Bora Bayraktar, euronews correspondent in Istanbul said:<br />“While the court’s verdict is uncertain, what is known is that the Çarşı fans – often proud to be ahead of their rivals – have become the first football supporters’ group to be accused of an attempted coup.”
