Journalist Timur Soykan was acquitted in a case in which he had been detained over social media posts about operations targeting municipalities run by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). Prosecutors had sought up to nine years and six months in prison for Soykan on charges of “publicly disseminating misleading information” and “publicly inciting the commission of a crime.”
MLSA - The final hearing in the case against journalist Timur Soykan, who was charged with “publicly disseminating misleading information” under Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and “publicly inciting the commission of a crime” under Article 214 over two social media posts he made following operations targeting municipalities run by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was held today at Istanbul’s 32nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
Soykan did not attend the hearing. His lawyer, Enes Hikmet Ermaner, was present in court. Ermaner said they reiterated their previous defense statements and requested Soykan’s acquittal.
What happened?
Soykan was detained as part of the investigation, and a case was later filed against him. In its opinion on the merits, the prosecution sought a prison sentence of up to nine years and six months for Soykan. His lawyer, Özge Naz Akkaya, requested additional time to prepare a defense statement in response to the prosecution’s opinion. The court also lifted the judicial control measure imposed on Soykan.
The case was opened over social media posts Soykan made following operations targeting municipalities run by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
After Adıyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere was detained, Soykan posted: “The coup continues. The will of the people is being usurped. The ballot box is losing its meaning.”
Following reports of further detentions, Soykan wrote: “‘Defeating the AKP in an election’ should be added to the law as a crime. That way, they can spare themselves the burden of pretending there is still a judiciary.”
In another post, he argued that the government was sending society the message: “You cannot elect a government other than mine.”
At today’s hearing, Istanbul’s 32nd Criminal Court of First Instance acquitted Soykan.
