Three teenagers, aged between 16 and 17, face prison terms for hurling stones at the Israeli embassy in Ankara during July protests against Israel's brutal Gaza offensive last summer.

The first hearing was held at a juvenile court yesterday. The teenagers are charged with the "violation of law on assembly and protests," which carries a prison term of up to three years.

The lawyers for the three teenagers, who were released pending trial, requested their release, stating that they simply joined the protest and it did not constitute a crime. The court ruled for the adjournment of the hearing for the assessment of another case related to adult defendants who attended the protest.

A group of nongovernmental organizations staged a protest outside the Ankara courthouse, claiming the trial aimed to "daunt those protesting Israeli gang of terrorists." They claimed teenagers executed their democratic right to protest.