This week, several trials related to journalism and freedom of expression will take place in different cities on various charges. Journalists such as Şerife Oruç, Zilan Azad, Faruk Arhan, Rüstem Batum, Hasan Sivri, Suat Toktaş, and the editors of the Bursa Muhalif newspaper will be appearing in court again this week for their news reports. Additionally, Diyarbakır Bar Association President Cihan Aydın and 10 lawyers who were members of the executive board at the time will also be defending themselves in court this week due to a lawsuit filed against them.
Here is the hearing schedule for the week:
Tuesday, December 19
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09.30 - The trial of the case against Şerife Oruç, reporter of Dicle News Agency (DİHA), which was shut down with a decree law, will continue at Batman 2nd Assize Court due to "illegal organization membership".
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10.50 - The case filed against Abdülhalik Kaya, defended by MLSA, due to "membership in a terrorist organization" and "making propaganda for a terrorist organization" will be held at Ağrı 2nd Assize Court.
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11.10 - The case known as "KCK Academy" involves 21 individuals in Istanbul, including members and executives of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), journalist Ahmet Birsin, Democratic Modernity magazine editor Haydar Ergül, and Jineolojî Magazine employee Şeyma Kantarcı. They are being accused of "membership of a terrorist organization" and will face trial at the Istanbul 22nd High Criminal Court.
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10.20 - The case filed against journalist Rüstem Batum, defended by MLSA, due to "publicly insulting the Turkish nation, the State of Turkey, the Parliament, the government and the judicial organs" will be held at Istanbul 43rd Criminal Court of First Instance.
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12.10 - The trial filed against Halkevleri Chairperson Nebiye Merttürk due to "insulting the president" will be held at Ankara 70th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Wednesday, December 20
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09.15 - The trial of Zilan Azad, a journalist who was arrested last year on September 1st while covering the World Peace Day demonstrations in Kadıköy, will continue at the Istanbul Anatolian 17th Criminal Court of First Instance. Along with 99 other individuals who were detained during the demonstration, Zilan Azad is being charged with "violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations". Zilan Azad is being represented by MLSA.
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09.30 - The "insult" case filed against Emine Şenyaşar on the complaint of former AKP MP İbrahim Halil Yıldız, who is blamed for the death of her husband and two sons in Suruç in 2018, will be held at Şanlıurfa 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance.
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10.00 - The case filed against Halkevleri members due to "violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations" after they were prevented and detained while trying to deliver a report on students' problems to the Ministry of National Education will be held at Ankara 50th Criminal Court of First Instance.
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11.55 - The trial of artist Ferhat Tunç, who was accused of insulting then Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım through his social media posts in 2016, will take place at Istanbul Büyükçekmece 16th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Thursday, December 21
- Following the Supreme Court-AYM crisis, the second application made by the lawyers of Turkish Labor Party Hatay Deputy Can Atalay will be discussed by the General Assembly of the Constitutional Court (AYM). Atalay's lawyers demand from the Constitutional Court to determine that "legislative immunity", "right to be elected and engage in political activity", "right to a fair trial" and "right to personal freedom and security" have been violated for the second time and to eliminate these violations.
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10.05 - The first hearing of the case filed against journalist Hasan Sivri due to "publicly disseminating misleading information to the public" after he shared the footage he took in Antakya about the February 6 earthquakes on his social media account will be held at Ankara 33rd Criminal Court of First Instance.
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11.33 - The hearing of the 50 thousand TL non-pecuniary damages lawsuit filed against journalist Faruk Arhan, defended by MLSA, upon the complaint of former AKP Erzurum MP Zehra Taşkesenlioğlu, will be held at Ankara Gölbaşı 1st Civil Court of First Instance.
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12.20 - The case filed against former Halk TV Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktaş due to "insulting a public official" upon the complaint of Hamit Kocabey, a member of the High Council of Judges and Prosecutors who resigned from his post, will be held at Ankara 39th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Friday, December 22
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09.30 - A case has been filed against former Diyarbakır Bar Association President Cihan Aydın and 10 lawyers who were members of the executive board, for making a statement on April 24th Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. They have been charged under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for "publicly degrading the Turkish nation, the State of Turkey, the Parliament, the government and the judicial organs." The case will be held at Diyarbakır 9th Assize Court.
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09.30 - The case against the Managing Editor of Bursa Muhalif newspaper, Ozan Kaplanoğlu, newspaper editor Hatice Nur Derya, and journalist Burhan Gökay Küpeli, continues at the Bursa 8th Criminal Court of First Instance. The three were detained during a protest they were covering for news, and were accused of violating Law No. 2911.
