The next hearing in the trial against 18 students and one academic from Middle East Technical University (METU) will take place on 12 March in Ankara. They are facing criminal charges that carry prison terms for allegedly joining an LGBTI Pride Parade on the University’s campus on 10 May 2019. The charges against all of them must be dropped as no one should be prosecuted for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.