Turkey: Legal Ordeal Against Cumhuriyet Reporters And Editors Continues As The Hearing Was Adjourned To The Next Year
Location: Turkey, Istanbul
Date: December 1, 2021Available in: 🇹🇷 Türkçe
Legal ordeal for Cumhuriyet Newspaper reporter Hazal Ocak, managing editor Olcay Büyüktaş Akça, editor-in-chief İpek Özbey and photo-journalist Vedat Arık continues as their trial was adjourned for the fourth time. The fourth hearing of the trial against Cumhuriyet employees was held at İstanbul’s 26th High Criminal Court. The court sought details about the building referred to the article published in 2020. Also, demanded the decision of the Personal Data Protection Board dated June 9, 2021, which stressed ‘press freedom’. The next trial will be held on March 31, 2022.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) extends solidarity with journalists and their commitment to truthful reporting. We demand the judiciary to acquit journalists and respect press freedom. Journalism is not a crime.
The fourth hearing against Cumhuriyet reporter Hazal Ocak, managing editor Olcay Büyüktaş Akça, editor-in-chief İpek Özbey and photojournalist Vedat Arık, was held in Istanbul’s 26th High Criminal Court. The journalists are facing charges for a piece the newspaper published on April 14, 2020.
At the hearing on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, the journalists were represented in court by lawyer Turan Karakaş. According to MLSA, the lawyer required that the prosecution be extended, however, the court rejected his inquiry.
Karakaş reminded article 15 of the law on fight against terrorism to the court authority that Presidency Communications Director, Fahrettin Altun cannot benefit from the article, due to his official duty. Pointing out that Altun is neither a policeman nor a soldier. Article 15 contains an appointment of a defence lawyer. During the investigation and trial of offences purportedly committed during the execution of duties of officials of intelligence and security and other personnel that are in charge of fight against terror, fees of a maximum of three defence lawyers specified by the defender can be paid by the Defence Ministry. Karakaş also requested the court to interrogate Altun’s position from Home Secretary and the Presidency within a scope of the counter-terrorism law.
The prosecution, on the other hand, repeated its opinion from the previous session on June 24, 2021, and demanded the journalists be sentenced up to 14 years in prison. The journalists are facing charges of targeting persons who have taken part in the fight against terrorism, violating the privacy of secret life, violating privacy by recording images, and unlawfully disclosing images of persons' private life.
The story was about the land beside the home of Presidency Communications Director, Fahrettin Altun, in İstanbul. The indictment was filed after Fahrettin Altun's criminal complaint stated, "it was obligatory to restrict freedom of expression to protect the public and the state". After the story was circulated, Altun filed a complaint with the authorities, which launched the lawsuit.
An interim court verdict today accepted the lawyer's requests, however, denied expanding the case.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the prosecution of journalists for their coverage. We believe that judicial proceedings are being used as a new method to intimidate and silence journalists. We urge the Turkish authorities to end the legal harassment that interferes with press freedom.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism closely monitors the incidents in Turkey with great concern. Since March 8, Women's Day, police violence against women journalists increasingly continues in the country. As the coalition, we urge the Turkish state to provide a free environment for journalists. Following the news is our most fundamental democratic right to report. We demand the immediate release of our detained colleagues. Journalism is not a crime. Journalism cannot be prevented.
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