MLSA observers continued to monitor court hearings involving freedom of expression and press freedom during the week of June 8. Courts acquitted three journalists, while another journalist received a prison sentence.
The Istanbul 25th High Criminal Court ruled to acquit journalists Esra Solin Dal and Mehmet Aslan in a case in which they were tried on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization.” The court sentenced journalist Erdoğan Alayumat to 1 year and 3 months in prison for “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” and ordered a suspension of the announcement of the verdict, a legal mechanism that postpones the formal entry of a conviction into the record under certain conditions. The hearing began late due to the court’s workload, and there were difficulties hearing what was being said in the courtroom. The defendants did not attend the hearing, and plainclothes police officers were also present in the courtroom. Click here for the full story.
In a separate case, the Bakırköy 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance, located in an Istanbul district on the city’s European side, acquitted Nefes newspaper reporter Nisanur Yıldırım, who had been tried on a charge of “insulting a public official” following a complaint by Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy. That hearing also began late because of the court’s workload. Yıldırım did not attend the hearing, but her lawyer was present. Uniformed police officers were observed in the courtroom. Click here for the full story.
In another judicial development this week, the case file against human rights defender Nimet Tanrıkulu was referred to the Court of Cassation because of a jurisdictional dispute between courts in Istanbul and Diyarbakır. Click here for the full story.
Among other developments during the week, the pro-government news outlets Yeni Akit, En Son Haber and Haberler.com targeted Mezopotamya Agency reporter Sema Bingöl after she was detained and later released while covering a commemoration in Ankara for Ethem Sarısülük, a protester who was killed during the 2013 Gezi Park demonstrations.
Journalists called for a public statement to be held on June 10 at Taksim Tunnel Square in central Istanbul, demanding the release of ETHA employees Pınar Gayıp, Nadiye Gürbüz, Sema Korkmaz and Eylem Nazlıer, who were arrested as part of a Feb. 3 operation.
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers also placed unimplemented European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings on its agenda. The cases under review include ECHR judgments calling for the immediate release of former Kurdish political leader Selahattin Demirtaş and businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala.
In the media sector, Turkey’s broadcasting watchdog, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), imposed administrative fines on SZC TV, Halk TV, ATV, Show TV, Star TV, NOW TV and Kanal D. It was reported that the council had taken up a case involving ATV for the first time.
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