REFILE – CLARIFYING CAPTION
Protesters, who are supporting soccer fans on trial, stand near Turkish flags bearing an image of the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk outside a court in Istanbul December 16, 2014. Thirty-five Turkish soccer fans went on trial on Tuesday accused of attempting to stage a coup during mass protests last year, in a case the opposition and rights groups say is an abuse of the justice system by a government bent on revenge. Government officials have repeatedly said the judiciary is independent and that criminal elements among the protesters must be brought to justice. In their indictment, prosecutors cited the seizure of gas masks, flares and hand guns as evidence against the soccer fans. They also cited payment arranged by one defendant for meatballs and pizza “for individuals in the protest area”. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY – Tags: CRIME LAW CIVIL UNREST POLITICS SOCCER SPORT)