Journalist Furkan Karabay rejects charges in trial over judiciary criticism
Journalist Furkan Karabay, on trial for "publicly insulting state judicial bodies," defended his reporting in court, stating, "A prosecutor working at Çağlayan Courthouse wrote about bribery allegations in a petition sent to the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK). While those at the center of these claims are not on trial, I refuse to accept being prosecuted for my report."
Karabay was charged after his article, titled "The owner of the office turned out to be a terror prosecutor! Chief Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation," was published on Gerçek Gündem on December 13, 2023. The piece referenced allegations involving a prosecutor from Istanbul Courthouse, where a lawyer, Buket Tekışık, posted a photo taken in the prosecutor's office. The article also included claims that Çağlayan Courthouse had become a hub for bribery, which formed the basis of the charges against Karabay.
During the first hearing, Karabay, accompanied by his lawyer Enes Hikmet Ermaner, appeared before the court, while representatives from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) observed the proceedings.
'It was journalism'
Karabay explained that his report was based on information from judicial sources, stating, "Before my article, the former Chief Prosecutor of Anadolu and a prosecutor from the same courthouse mentioned bribery allegations in a petition to the HSK. While the Chief Prosecutor of Istanbul and the head of the Justice Commission, who are at the center of these claims, are not being prosecuted, I am being tried for writing about similar issues."
He emphasized that he had no intent to commit a crime and insisted that his actions were part of his journalistic duties, requesting acquittal.
Karabay's lawyer, Enes Hikmet Ermaner, reiterated that the allegations had previously been made public, asserting, "My client’s actions fall under journalistic work. The press prosecutors at Çağlayan Courthouse are no longer defenders of the Republic, but rather serve the powerful, the wealthy, and the government."
Prosecutor calls for conviction
The prosecutor presented the final opinion, arguing that Karabay’s article suggested illegal activities were being conducted at Istanbul Courthouse and created a negative perception of the judiciary. On these grounds, the prosecutor requested that Karabay be convicted of "publicly insulting state judicial bodies."
The court granted Karabay and his lawyer time to prepare their defense against the prosecutor's opinion and adjourned the hearing to January 7, 2025.
