Turkish soccer coup trial draws concern over judiciary

Protesters, who are supporting soccer fans on trial, shout slogans outside a court in Istanbul December 16, 2014. REUTERS/Osman Orsal

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - 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.

Prosecutors are seeking life sentences for all of them, from a supporters' group of major Istanbul team Besiktas. They are accused of helping organise the protests that erupted in Istanbul's Taksim square in May 2013 and grew into a major challenge to then-Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.