ELİF AKGÜL
Barış Pehlivan, who is on trial with the allegation of "insulting a public official because of his duty" upon the complaint of a member of the Court of Cassation, to the court: "You have not examined the file, you have not done your homework. I am going to jail tomorrow because you did not do your duty."
The second hearing of the case, filed by Supreme Court of Appeals member Ömer Faruk Aydıner, began later than scheduled at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. The proceedings, initially set for 13:30, began at 16:45 due to the court's workload and took place in the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court hall due to overcrowding. The courtroom hosted numerous journalists, press freedom advocates, and political party representatives, as observed by MLSA.
In his defense, Pehlivan highlighted the lack of specificity in the prosecutor's allegations, emphasizing the absence of named insults in his column. He questioned whether a judge mediating in a dispute between a businesswoman and a drug baron qualifies as a public duty.
The journalist expressed frustration about spending eight months of probation in jail, emphasizing the discrepancy with a law that should have granted him freedom. Pehlivan, a five-time prison survivor in his 20-year journalism career, lamented a perceived injustice in the legal system.
Pehlivan's lawyer, Enes Hikmet Ermaner, criticized the empty content of the four-page indictment, demanding acquittal for his client. Aydıner's lawyer insisted on their complaint and sought a penalty.
Reacting to the judge's decision to postpone the verdict announcement, Pehlivan labeled it as cruelty, urging a prompt resolution. The judge adjourned the case until November 16 at 14:30.
In previous legal battles, Pehlivan served a sentence in 2020 but was released on probation. A new lawsuit in March 2023 led to the revocation of his probation, resulting in another prison sentence. Despite temporary release due to coronavirus measures, he re-entered prison in August.
