Elif Akgül
The eighth hearing of the case involving journalists Barış Terkoğlu, Barış Pehlivan, Can Bursalı, Nevzat Çiçek, Doğan Akın, and Gökmen Karadağ took place at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. They are accused of "open insult" and "libel" following a complaint by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's former lawyer, Mustafa Doğan İnal. The case has expanded to include journalists Fatih Portakal and Can Özçelik due to their involvement in reporting on the book 'Metastaz 2: Cendere.'
The lawsuit originally concerned Terkoğlu and Pehlivan, authors of 'Metastaz 2: Cendere,' and Bursalı and Çiçek, who conducted and published an interview about the book on the Independent Turkish news site. The cases against Akın and Karadağ, who also reported on the book, were merged with this case at a previous hearing. In the latest development, Portakal and Özçelik have been added to the indictment for similar reasons.
Doğan Akın and another defendant, Tefal's former CSO Mustafa Kılıç, who is alleged to have leaked a conversation recorded in the book, did not attend the hearing. The other defendant journalists were present with their lawyers.
Çiçek: We did everything but privilege the complainant
Nevzat Çiçek, speaking first at the hearing, denied the accusations and requested acquittal. He mentioned that they published a correction regarding the news in question, removed the article following a court's access ban, and even attempted to contact the opposite party for their views.
Çiçek's lawyer, Ersin Tezcan, argued for his client's acquittal, stating that Çiçek was not the responsible editor and therefore should not be criminally liable.
Terkoğlu: This is a case of intimidation
Following Çiçek, Barış Terkoğlu responded to the judge's remark about the growing number of files in the case. He emphasized that he did not name anyone in the book or subsequent interviews, but İnal's involvement became known after companies implicated in the book filed complaints. Terkoğlu denied any defamatory statements in the book or interviews and argued that the accuracy of the incident involving İnal was acknowledged by the companies themselves, making the libel charge baseless.
"This case is an attempt to intimidate me by a lawyer who uses his influence over the judiciary through prosecutors. However, I am not intimidated," Terkoğlu stated, requesting acquittal and highlighting the lack of evidence in the indictment.
Pehlivan: The case proves what we wrote in the book
Barış Pehlivan argued that the lawsuit itself is evidence of what they wrote in the book and that a conviction would prove İnal's influence in the judiciary. He requested acquittal.
Gökmen Karadağ, as a journalist and communications academic, expressed sadness over journalism being so easily construed as criminal activity and asked for immediate acquittal.
Pehlivan, Terkoğlu, and Karadağ's lawyer, Ali Deniz İlkem Demir, reiterated the absence of a criminal offense and requested acquittal for his clients.
Polat: Responsibility lies not only with prosecutors but also with the courts
Can Bursalı, in his defense, reminded that the case against his news report, which alleged İnal received 15 million TL in attorney fees from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, was dismissed following the submission of a bank receipt from İBB. He called for his acquittal, arguing that the accusations lacked substance and evidence.
Bursalı's lawyer, Melike Polat, emphasized that the responsibility also lies with the courts that accept such indictments and requested acquittal for her client.
The complainant Mustafa Doğan İnal's lawyer, Mehmet İnal, insisted on their complaint and sought the punishment of the journalists.
The court decided to issue summonses for the newly added defendants, Can Özçelik and Fatih Portakal, and adjourned the case to July 4, 2024, at 2:00 PM.
Background: The case revolves around the book 'Metastaz 2: Cendere,' co-authored by Barış Terkoğlu and Barış Pehlivan, published in December 2020. The journalists involved are accused of damaging İnal's honor, dignity, and reputation in society through their reporting on the book's allegations. The case reflects ongoing challenges and debates regarding freedom of press and expression in Turkey.
