ÇİÇEK TAHAOĞLU
Journalist Can Ataklı, facing trial over his remarks concerning the father of a soldier killed in the Pençe-Kilit military operation, stated, "I am here as a result of the lynching culture that has become frequent in recent years." The trial, centered on charges of "inciting public hatred and hostility," commenced at the Istanbul 5th Criminal Court of First Instance.
The case against Ataklı arose from his comments about the father of a soldier who lost his life in the Turkish Armed Forces' Pençe-Kilit Operation in Northern Iraq. During the hearing, Ataklı, a journalist with 47 years of experience, defended himself by stating that he had never uttered a sentence that could be construed as praising terrorism. He perceived the trial as an insult, attributing his legal troubles to a prevalent culture of social lynching.
The Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Foundation for Relatives of Martyrs and Veterans of the Turkish States had their lawyers present in the courtroom, continuing their complaints against Ataklı.
Ataklı's lawyer argued that the participation of the complainants and institutions in the trial had no legal benefit and requested the rejection of their involvement. The lawyer also sought the removal of judicial control measures and the travel ban imposed on Ataklı, clarifying that his client's criticism was not aimed at the martyr's father, but rather at those who approached him with a microphone while he was in a state of grief.
The court decided to postpone the next hearing to September 10, 2024, to complete missing elements in the case file. While accepting the participation requests, the court lifted the judicial control measures against Ataklı.
Background of the Case:
The investigation was initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in November 2023, following Ataklı's reaction on his YouTube channel to the statements made by Mehmet Aslan, father of the fallen soldier Piyade Sözleşmeli Er Kemal Aslan. Aslan had expressed his refusal to forgive figures like Selahattin Demirtaş and Osman Kavala, who seek freedom. The indictment against Ataklı, which alleges "inciting public hatred and hostility," includes the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the Confederation of Public Servants Trade Unions (Memur-Sen), the Foundation for Relatives of Martyrs and Veterans of the Turkish States, Engin Karakuş, Fatih Karaaslan, and Ali Yalçın as complainants.
