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The trial of Yuruyus magazine reader Engin Ceber who had been tortured to death on October 28, 2008 at Metris Prison was started on January 21, 2009 at the 14th Heavy Penalty Court in Bakirkoy, Istanbul. {divide}Ceber's family as well as democratic organisations participated in the first hearing of the trial where 41 accused were present, 6 of them behind bars. After the 6 detainees gave evidence, the trial was postponed to the next day. Before and after the first hearing, the family and lawyers of Ceber as well as the unions DISK and KESK , the CHD and the People's Front made statements in front of the court. The action of People's Front was supported by different organisations such as ESP , TTB , TMMOB , Tekstil-Sen , and a banner was opened read "Those who shot Ferhat and killed Engin must be sentenced. We demand justice." In the statement the demand was stressed that all forces responsible for torture must be punished and that torture is a crime against humanity.
The 3rd hearing of the trial took place on January 23. At this hearing the trial, in which altogether 60 people are accused, among them 39 jailers, 3 prison directors and 1 doctor, was postponed to March 4 due to the contradicting testimonies and the confession of one of the jailers on torture. The jailer told the court details of how Engin Ceber had been tortured. The public prosecutor decided to charge 22 of the accused on grounds of "torture". While 60 lawyers joined the hearing in the name of the family of Ceber, the court rejected the application of 800 lawyers to join the action.
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