EYLEM SONBAHAR
Gözde Bedeloğlu, a columnist for Turkey’s left-wing newspaper BirGün, has been sentenced to a fine of 7,080 Turkish lira (about $260) over a column titled “Those Who Have Protected the State from Past to Present.” The Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance ruled to impose the fine, citing charges of “insulting a public official in connection with their duties.”
The charges were brought following a complaint from Sermet Atay, a parliament member from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) representing Gaziantep, who argued that Bedeloğlu’s column, published on April 9, 2023, defamed public officials. This week’s ruling came after the fourth hearing in the trial, which Bedeloğlu did not attend; her attorney, Tolgay Güvercin, and Atay’s attorney, Tuğba Karayel, were present.
During the hearing, the prosecutor reiterated a prior assessment from February 22, 2024, arguing that the column met the legal criteria for defamation. Atay's attorney supported this stance, also requesting a penalty for Bedeloğlu. In response, Güvercin argued that the piece was an opinion piece, not a news report, and therefore not defamatory under the law. He requested acquittal on the grounds that the legal elements of the offense were not present.
Ultimately, the court ruled that the article did constitute defamation of a public official and issued the fine. However, it opted to defer the announcement of the verdict, meaning it may not go into immediate effect depending on Bedeloğlu's future conduct.
The case highlights ongoing tensions in Turkey over freedom of expression and government criticism, particularly affecting journalists and opposition voices.
