- Within the scope of the HDK investigation, an acquittal decision was given for 6 people, including journalist Ender İmrek, who were tried on the charge of “membership in an organization.”
- In the defense statements, it was emphasized that activities within the scope of freedom of expression were counted as crimes, and attention was drawn to the ECHR’s Aysel Tuğluk decision.
MLSA — The hearing of the case filed against 6 people, including journalist Ender İmrek, on the charge of “membership in an organization” was held at the Istanbul 23rd High Criminal Court. The hearing started with a delay of approximately half an hour.
The case had been filed within the scope of investigations known to the public as the “HDK cases.”
The prosecution authority repeated the opinion it had previously submitted and requested that the defendants be punished on the charge of “membership in an organization.”
“The indictment is based on assumptions”
In his defense statement, journalist Ender İmrek stated that the indictment and the opinion were based on assumptions. İmrek said, “Especially every activity related to Kurds has been considered a crime; this is unacceptable.”
Reminding that peace talks with the government are ongoing today, İmrek criticized that activities and newspaper writings within the scope of freedom of expression were made the subject of accusations.
Defendants Mehmet Özcan, Yıldız İmrek and Taner Güven also rejected the accusations in their defense statements. The defendants emphasized that freedom of expression and the right to engage in politics are fundamental rights and requested acquittal.
The ECHR’s Aysel Tuğluk decision was recalled
The defendants’ lawyers stated that the indictment showed activities within the scope of freedom of expression as crimes. In the defense statements, it was expressed, by making reference to the jurisprudence of the Court of Cassation, that the elements of the crime of “membership in an organization” had not been formed.
In addition, attention was drawn to the decision given by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) about Aysel Tuğluk. In this decision, it was recalled that an evaluation had been made that the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) is not a criminal organization. In the indictment, however, it was claimed that the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) is the continuation of the DTK. The lawyers argued that this accusation is groundless.
Acquittal for all defendants
After a break of approximately half an hour, the court decided on acquittal for all defendants. The court also ruled for the return of judicially held items.
