Turkiye: Ruling Party Politician Sues İzel Sezer
AKP lawmaker alleges journalists İzel Sezer and Doğan Ergün defamed him
Location: Turkiye, AnkaraDate: April 4, 2024
Women Press Freedom views the lawsuit by Deputy Ali İhsan Arslan of the ruling AKP party against İleri Haber journalists İzel Sezer and Doğan Ergün as an attempt to stifle critical journalism, and we call for the case to be dismissed. Arslan contends that a news article suggesting his involvement with a company called 'Altus,' misrepresented him and is pursuing compensation. The İleri Haber journalists have faced multiple lawsuits for their reporting. The legal action underscores broader concerns regarding press freedom and the ability of journalists to hold public officials accountable in Turkiye.
Ali İhsan Arslan, a deputy from the ruling AKP party, is suing İleri Haber, its former Editor-in-Chief Doğan Ergün, and the current Editor-in-Chief İzel Sezer for defamation.
The fifth hearing of the case was due to be held on April 4, 2024 at Ankara 20th Civil Court of First Instance, but has been postponed for a later date.
The civil lawsuit is in response to a news article published on October 25, 2021, "Million-dollar tender game in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry," which contained allegations concerning his connections to a company named 'Altus'. Arslan denies any association with the company and claims the article violates his personal rights.
He is seeking 20,000 Turkish liras ($619) in damages from both Haber and Sezer.
İleri Haber has faced physical assault, gender discrimination and lawsuits for her reporting. Last year İzel Sezer and Doğan Ergün received a 1 year and 8 months suspended prison sentence for reporting on bribery allegations involving President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's former lawyer. They were charged for “unlawful disclosure of data obtained by recording non-public conversations through the press and media."
Women Press Freedom believes the attempt to sue İzel Sezer and Doğan Ergün is an effort to silence critical journalism. As a politician, Arslan is a public figure elected by the public and subject to media scrutiny. This lawsuit bears all the hallmarks of a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation), legal action initiated by a public figure to intimidate journalists by entangling them in legal proceedings. We urge the court to dismiss this case and to stop entertaining cases that hinder journalistic freedom.
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