MLSA objects to arrest warrant issued for journalist Cengiz Çandar
İstanbul - Media and Law Studies Association’s (MLSA) Legal Unit objected to the arrest warrant issued for journalist Cengiz Çandar as part of a trial based on a social media post.
In the petition of objection submitted to the İstanbul 30th Criminal Court of First Instance, MLSA claimed that issuing an arrest warrant against Çandar, who is charged with “praising an offence and the offender,” despite the fact that the request to take his defense from abroad through letters rogatory had been accepted, violated many elements of the right to a fair trial.
Lawyer Veysel Ok underlined that the decision to issue this warrant against Çandar creates concerns and uncertainty for future plans of the journalist and harms his psychological well-being. Ok further stated that the decision prevents Çandar from conducting activities related to his profession in Turkey.
The petition noted that issuing this arrest warrant even though the address of Çandar, who is currently residing in Sweden, was shared with the judicial authorities violates many elements of the right to a fair trial, as well as the presumption of innocence. The petition also reminded that the right to a fair trial includes the right to be granted the necessary time and means to prepare a defense and pointed out that the arrest warrant also violates the principle of proportionality.
It was emphasized that the justifications brought forward by the judicial authorities are insufficient to limit the right to freedom of the press and freedom of expression in this way and that the decision has a chilling effect not only on Çandar but also on other members of the press in Turkey.