Turkish Prosecutors Seek Prison for 17 Youths Over Red Paint Protest

Prosecutors in Turkey have formally charged 17 young people, 16 of whom are already in detention, for using red paint as a symbolic "weapon" during a protest. The case stems from a demonstration against workplace deaths in Vocational Training Centers (MESEMs). The protesters used red paint to symbolize bloodshed. An indictment now accuses them of "possessing dangerous substances" by classifying the paint as a weapon. Prosecutors are demanding prison sentences ranging from 10 months to four years. The group includes members of the left-wing Workers' Party of Turkey (TIP). They have been detained for nearly ten months since their initial arrest.