Two trials involving journalism and freedom of expression are scheduled to take place in Istanbul courts this week. Among the week's key hearings are a defamation and insult case against journalists Barış Terkoğlu, Barış Pehlivan and other journalists following a complaint filed by Mustafa Doğan İnal, and the trial of Müslüm Koyun on charges of membership in a terrorist organization.
Monday, Oct. 26
11:50 a.m. – The Gebze 3rd Civil Court of Peace in northwestern Turkey’s Kocaeli province will hear a lawsuit seeking compensation over the cancellation of a rental agreement for a cultural and arts event planned by the Mesopotamia Cultural Center. The lawsuit was filed by Seyme Müzik, which is represented by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA).
Tuesday, Oct. 27
10 a.m. – The Istanbul 22nd High Criminal Court will hold a hearing in the trial of journalist Müslüm Koyun, who faces charges of “membership in an organization.”
11:30 a.m. – The Istanbul 30th High Criminal Court will hold a hearing in the trial of journalist Burhan Ekinci, who is represented by MLSA. Ekinci faces charges of “spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization” over seven posts shared on his social media account.
2 p.m. – The Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance will hold a hearing in the trial of journalists Barış Terkoğlu, Barış Pehlivan, Can Bursalı, Nevzat Çiçek, Doğan Akın, Gökmen Karadağ, Ayşenur Arslan, Fatih Portakal, Can Özçelik and Mustafa Kılıç. The case was filed following a complaint by Mustafa Doğan İnal, a former lawyer for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The journalists face charges of “public insult” and “slander.”
