This week, hearings will be held for various cases related to journalism and freedom of expression. Among them, journalists Nurcan Baysal, and Sultan Eylem Keleş, whose defense is undertaken by the MLSA, and Faruk Eren, Furkan Karabay, and İsmail Saymaz, will appear before the courts due to the cases filed against them.
MLSA Trial Monitoring Unit will keep everyone updated on these trials, sharing information in both Turkish and English through our @MLSADavaTakip account, be sure to follow us on X/Twitter.
January 23, Tuesday
- 09.35 - The trial of journalist Ahmet Kanbal, who has been the subject of 37 investigations and eight separate lawsuits until now, on charges of "making propaganda for a terrorist organization," will be heard at the Mardin 2nd Heavy Penal Court.
- 09.40 – The first hearing of the trial where Gerçek Gündem internet news site's former Managing Editor Faruk Eren and editor Furkan Karabay are being tried on charges of "targeting individuals who have been involved in the fight against terrorism," following a complaint by AYM (Constitutional Court) member İrfan Fidan, and which has been consolidated with a case being heard at Ankara 22nd Heavy Penal Court on the same charges, will take place at Ankara 4th Heavy Penal Court.
- 10.10 - The case in which journalist İsmail Saymaz is charged with "publicly insulting a public official because of his duty" and "targeting a public official who took part in the fight against terrorism" on the complaint of Gezi Trial judge Murat Bircan, will be held at Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court.
- 14.00 - The case, filed by Serhat Albayrak, the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Turkuvaz Media Group, against Erdem Avşar, the Managing Editor of the Neniçağ newspaper, based on an article published in the newspaper, alleging "defamation" and "insult," will be heard at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
January 24th, Wednesday
- 11.30 – The trial of the case against journalist Sibel Hürtaş on the charge of "insulting a public officer" based on her article published on Artı Gerçek website in August 2020, upon the complaint of Brigadier General Subutay Adas, will continue at Ankara 19th Criminal Court of First Instance.
11.30 – The third hearing of the case against journalist Hayri Demir for his journalistic activities in Syria will be held at Ankara 15th High Criminal Court.
January 25th, Thursday
- 10.50 - The case filed against Sultan Eylem Keleş, defended by MLSA, on charges of "insulting a public officer" and "resisting to prevent the execution of her duty" will be held at Istanbul 56th Criminal Court of First Instance.
- 11.30 - The lawsuit filed against journalist Sezgin Kartal due to "illegal organization membership" will be held at Istanbul 22nd High Criminal Court.
- 11.35 - The trial of journalist Zeynep Kuray, who was detained along with nine others while covering a demonstration in support of former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) parliamentarian Leyla Güven, on charges of "violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations," will be heard at Istanbul 39th Criminal Court of First Instance.
- 14.20 - The trial of journalist Nurcan Baysal, whose defense is undertaken by the MLSA, on charges of "publicly degrading the Turkish nation, state, Parliament, government, and judiciary," as regulated in Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, will be heard at Istanbul 54th Criminal Court of First Instance.
- 15.00 - The case filed against Tatvan Mayor Mehmet Emin Geylani's two armed bodyguards, one of whom is a police officer, for the attack on journalist Sinan Aygül will be heard at Tatvan 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
