Several journalism and free speech trials were held last week. Below is a list of the hearings monitored by Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) last week:
Journalist Ceren Karlıdağ’s trial is adjourned until November
Fifth hearing of the trial where 12 defendants, including freelance journalist Ceren Karlıdağ, face “defying the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations no. 2911,” “prevention of public duty” and “resisting the police” charges resumed at İzmir 32nd Criminal Court of First Instance. Karlıdağ repeated her defense statement during the hearing, court adjourned the trial until 5 November.
https://medyavehukuk.org/en/journalist-ceren-karlidags-trial-adjourned-until-november
ETHA reporter Adil Demirci’s travel ban not lifted, trial adjourned until October
Third hearing of the trial where 23 defendants, including Etkin News Agency (ETHA) reporter and social worker Adil Demirci, are tried on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorist propaganda” was held at the Istanbul 25th High Criminal Court. The court ordered the release of four defendants who have been tried whilst in detention but did not lift German citizen Adil Demirci’s international travel ban. The trial is adjourned until 15 October.
No verdict announced in the trial of Bakur filmmakers, next hearing is in July
The court did not reach a verdict during the sixth hearing of the trial where filmmakers Çayan Demirel and Ertuğrul Mavioğlu face “terrorist propaganda” charges for their documentary film, Bakur. The court adjourned the trial until 18 July after ruling that documents about the new investigation launched about Mavioğlu in Ankara need to be examined.
https://medyavehukuk.org/en/no-verdict-announced-trial-bakur-filmmakers-trial-adjourned-until-july
TV10 cameraman Kemal Demir’s trial is adjourned until September
Second hearing of the trial where since-shuttered TV10’s cameraman Kemal Demir and TV10 staff Kemal Karagöz face “aiding and abetting a terrorist organization without being a member” charges resumed at İstanbul 28th High Criminal Court today. The court rejected Demir’s demand to have his travel ban lifted but accepted his request to be exempted from hearings. The trial is adjourned until 10 September.
https://medyavehukuk.org/en/tv10-cameraman-kemal-demirs-trial-adjourned-until-september
Constitutional Court rejects 6 journalists' applications, found violations for 3
Turkish Constitutional Court rejected the individual applications of former Cumhuriyet daily administrators and staff Akın Atalay, Murat Sabuncu, Ahmet Şık and Bülent Utku yesterday. In today’s session, the court reviewed the applications of imprisoned journalists Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak and rejected their applications as well. With this decision, the Constitutional Court has approved the arrest of these journalists on “terror-related charges.” The High Court found violations on behalf of journalists Kadri Gürsel, Murat Aksoy and Ali Bulaç.
