Nine pro-Palestinian activists arrested for protesting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a speech last week were released on Friday after a court approved an appeal from their lawyers, according to Turkish media reports.

The activists, who called for an end to trade with Israel during Erdoğan’s speech at the TRT World Forum in İstanbul on November 29 were charged with “insulting the president” and participating in an unlawful demonstration. They were held in police custody for three days before there arrest on Monday.

The activists’ lawyers appealed to the 10th İstanbul Criminal Court of Peace. They argued that the detention was unjustified and referred to the allegations of ill-treatment in detention. The court reversed the decision for their arrest on Friday evening and allowed the activists to be released pending trial.

Protesters interrupted Erdoğan’s keynote speech and accused the government of continuing to trade with Israel despite an official embargo imposed in May in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

“Young man, do not become the mouthpiece of the Zionists here,” Erdoğan replied during the protest. “No matter how much you try to provoke, you will not succeed. The Zionists around the world know very well where Tayyip Erdoğan stands, but you still do not understand.”

The nine activists, including two who disrupted the speech inside the venue and seven others who demonstrated outside, were detained on the spot.

Allegations of mistreatment

The arrests were met with criticism after allegations emerged that some detainees had been mistreated. According to their lawyers and family members, the detainees were denied food and water for an extended period of time and subjected to degrading treatment.

Alev Sezen, the Felicity Party’s deputy chairperson, said female detainees had reported that their headscarves were forcibly cut off when they entered the prison. “Their headscarves were reduced to handkerchief-sized scarves, leaving their hair exposed,” Sezen said. She also claimed that prisoners were deprived of food for up to 18 hours and had to wait for hours to fulfill basic needs such as praying or going to the toilet.

In response to these allegations, the Turkish authorities launched an investigation and suspended three prison guards accused of involvement in the abuse.

The release of the activists was confirmed by their lawyer, Adem Bingöl, who announced the decision on social media on Friday evening. The public prosecutor’s office also confirmed their release pending trial.

The release of the activists comes at a time when Erdoğan’s handling of dissenting opinions is coming under increased scrutiny. Critics accuse his government of suppressing protests while failing to address allegations of ongoing trade with Israel.

Investigations into the alleged mistreatment of the detainees are ongoing, and the activists are expected to face trial over their protest.