This week, journalism and freedom of expression cases will be heard. The most notable cases for this week will be the case against Abdurrahman Gök and Dicle Müftüoğlu. Abdurrahman Gök’s case will be heard on December 5th and Dicle Müftüoğlu case will be heard on December 7th. In both cases MLSA Legal Unit and MLSA Trial Monitoring Unit will monitor the case.
Here is the trial schedule for the week:
Tuesday, December 5
- 09.40 - The lawsuit filed against journalist Ismail Saymaz due to "publicly insulting a public official because of his duty" and "targeting a public official who took part in the fight against terrorism" upon the complaint of Murat Bircan, the judge of the Gezi Trial, will be held at Istanbul 24th Criminal Assize Court.
- 11.00 - The lawsuit filed against documentary filmmaker Sibel Tekin, who allegedly "filmed police and prison vehicles for the purpose of reconnaissance on behalf of a terrorist organization" during the filming of the documentary 'Life Beginning in Darkness', will be heard at Ankara 26th Criminal Assize Court
- 09.50 - The second hearing of the lawsuit filed against Mezopotamya Agency (MA) editor Abdurrahman Gök, who was detained on April 25 in a Diyarbakır-based operation and has been held in Diyarbakır High Security Prison No. 1 for 223 days, due to "being an illegal organization member" and "making illegal organization propaganda" through his news reports, will be held at Diyarbakır 5th Criminal Assize Court.
- 09.05 - The lawsuit filed against journalists Osman Akın and Veysi Sarısözen due to "making terrorist organization propaganda in a chain" will be heard at Istanbul 13th Criminal Assize Court.
- 10.35 - The retrial of journalist Ahmet Altan on the allegation of "insulting the then Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation Abdurrahman Yalçınkaya due to his duty" will be held at Istanbul Anatolian 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
- 14.30 - The lawsuit filed against journalists Nagihan Yılkın and Mustafa Büyüksipahi due to "insulting a public official" upon the complaint of then Gaziantep Governor Davut Gül will be held at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
Wednesday, December 6
- 09:00 - The lawsuit filed against 46 people, including journalists Nebiye Arı, Hilal Işık and Yağmur Kaya, defended by MLSA, for "violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations" will be heard at Ankara 15th Criminal Court of First Instance.
- 10.00 - The case against 11 defendants, including Yasin Hayal and Erhan Tuncel, regarding the murder of Hrant Dink, Editor-in-Chief of Agos Newspaper in front of the newspaper building, will be held at Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court. Ogün Samast is also expected to appear before the judge since the new case filed against him for "committing crimes on behalf of an armed terrorist organization without being a member of an armed terrorist organization" has been merged with this case.
7 December, Thursday
- 09:30 - The lawsuit filed against journalists Barış Pehlivan and Mustafa Büyüksipahi due to "insulting a public official" through their news reports on Hamit Kocabey, a former member of the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors who allegedly resigned upon the instruction of MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli, and his lawyer son Nizameddin Kocabey, will be heard at Ankara 19th Criminal Court of First Instance.
- 09.30 - The lawsuit filed against 16 people who were detained during the commemoration of the Suruç massacre in Kadıköy on July 20, 2022, due to "resisting to prevent the execution of duty" will be held at Istanbul Anadolu 69th Criminal Court of First Instance.
- 10.15 - The "Charlie Hebdo" case, in which a foreign media organization is tried for the first time on charges of "insulting the President", will be held at Ankara 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
- 11.10 - The first hearing of the lawsuit filed against Dicle Müftüoğlu, Co-Chair of Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG), who has been held in Sincan Prison for 219 days, due to "being a member of an illegal organization" and "establishing and leading an illegal organization" will be held at Diyarbakır 5th Assize Court.
- 14.20 - The lawsuit filed against Yetkin Yıldız, the editor-in-chief of the shut-down aktifhaber.com, due to "insult" and "slander" will be heard at Bakırköy 31st Criminal Court of First Instance.
Friday, December 8
09.05 - The second hearing of the lawsuit filed against journalist Beritan Canözer, who was detained and arrested on charges of "being a member of an illegal organization" in an operation against journalists on April 25 and released after 58 days, will be held at Diyarbakır 10th Criminal Assize Court.
