This week, hearings will be held for various journalism and freedom of expression cases. Among the journalists put on trial this week is Faruk Arhan, who was the subject of a complaint filed by AKP Erzurum MP Zehra Taşkesenlioğlu. In Diyarbakır, the trials of 18 journalists will also continue this week. Cihan Aydın, the former president of the Diyarbakır Bar Association, along with 10 lawyers who served during his term, will be tried in Diyarbakır for their statement regarding the Armenian Genocide. Additionally, members of the BEKSAV Cinema Collective will face trial in Istanbul for their movie called 'Pride'.
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.
Monday, January 29th
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13.30 – The second hearing of the 50 thousand TL non-pecuniary damages lawsuit filed against journalist Faruk Arhan, defended by MLSA, on the complaint of former AKP Erzurum MP Zehra Taşkesenlioğlu will be held at Ankara Gölbaşı 1st Civil Court of First Instance.
Tuesday, January 30th
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09.10 – The eighth hearing of the case filed against journalist Evrim Kepenek due to "insult" upon the complaint of Refik Y., who was arrested for child abuse and later released on judicial control conditions, will be held at the Selçuk Criminal Court of First Instance.
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09.45 - The fourth hearing of the lawsuit filed against journalist Dilan Esen due to "insulting a public official" upon the complaint of Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy will be held at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
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09.50 - The fifth hearing of the lawsuit filed against 15 people who were detained while trying to go to Taksim Square on May 1, Labor and Solidarity Day in Istanbul in 2022, on the allegation of "participating in unlawful meetings and marches without weapons and not dispersing spontaneously despite the warning" will be held at Istanbul 29th Criminal Court of First Instance.
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10.00 - The third hearing of the case filed against Yeni Yaşam newspaper Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Ferhat Çelik and Managing Editor Osman Akın due to "slander" and "insult" upon Serhat Albayrak's complaint will be held at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
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11.00 - The 30th hearing of the 'KCK Press' case, in which 46 journalists and media workers are on trial on terror charges, will be held at Istanbul 3rd High Criminal Court.
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11.35 – The second hearing of the case filed against 8 people who were detained after the banning of the film screening organized by Cinema Collective for LGBTI+ Pride Month at BEKSAV in Kadıköy, Istanbul, due to "violating the Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations" will be held at Istanbul Anadolu 45th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Thursday, February 1th
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09.15 - The third hearing of the trial of 18 journalists, facing up to 15 years in prison on charges of "being a member of a terrorist organization" for reporting news and presenting discussion and cultural programs for television channels broadcasting abroad will be held at Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court. MLSA Legal Unit is contributing to the defence.
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09.20 – The second hearing of the case filed against journalist Ahmet Kanbal due to "making illegal organization propaganda" will be held at Mardin 2nd Assize Court.
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09.40 - The trial of artist Ali Baran due to "insulting the president" through his social media posts will begin at Istanbul 7th Criminal Court of First Instance.
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14.00 - The third hearing of the lawsuit filed against movie actor İlyas Salman due to "insulting the president" will be held at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
Friday, February 2th
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09.05 - The fifth hearing of the case filed against former Diyarbakır Bar Association President Cihan Aydın and 10 lawyers who were members of the board of directors at the time, for making a statement on April 24th Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, will be held at Diyarbakır 9th High Criminal Court. Access the collaborative case report crafted by MLSA and Lawyers for Lawyers by clicking here.
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09.40 - The case filed against journalists Ramazan Yurttapan, Pakrat Estukyan, Emran Emekçi, Mehmet Nimet Sevim, and Cihan Doğan due to "making propaganda for a terrorist organization" through articles published in the magazine Demokratik Modernite will continue at Istanbul 30th Assize Court.
