This week several journalists, including İdris Sayılğan defended by Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), will appear before judges. Below is a list of this week’s journalism and free speech trials:
December 24, Monday
- The now-shuttered pro-Kurdish Dicle News Agency (DİHA) reporter İdris Sayılğan, defended by MLSA Legal Unit, will appear before Muş 2. High Criminal Court at 10:30 AM on ‘membership in a terrorist organization’ charges. Sayılğan’s case was brought before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) by MLSA lawyers and was granted a ‘priority review’ last week.
December 26, Wednesday
- Mesopotamia News Agency reporter Yasin Kobulan’s first hearing will be held at İstanbul 30. High Criminal Court at 10:30 AM. Kobulan is charged with ‘spreading terrorist propaganda in a sequence’.
- Former Zaman newspaper Konya correspondent Şirin Kabakçı will appear before İstanbul 35. High Criminal Court on ‘membership in a terrorist organization’, ‘violating confidentiality’ and ‘insult via audio, video or text’ charges.
December 27, Thursday
- Hearing of Perihan Mağden, Tunca Öğreten, Mehmet Çağlar Tekin and Orhan Şahin will be held at İstanbul 2. Court of First Instance at 11:55 AM. Journalists are accused of ‘insulting the president’ due to the publishing of an interview of Mağden at Diken newspaper and Yurt newspaper on 14 September 2015.
December 28, Friday
Hearing of Evrensel newspaper reporter Kemal Özer, charged with ‘membership in a terrorist organization’, will be held at Tunceli 1. High Criminal Court.
