Eylem Sonbahar
While members of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) were acquitted for distributing the controversial "SaBıKa Holding: A Story of Money Laundering, Politics, and Judiciary" pamphlet, two journalists from Cumhuriyet newspaper are now facing charges for reporting on the issue. Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences for journalist Barış Pehlivan and the newspaper's former managing editor, Ozan Alper Yurtoğlu, on allegations of "insulting the president" and "insulting a public official."
The 10th hearing in the case against Pehlivan and Yurtoğlu took place at the Istanbul 15th Criminal Court of First Instance. The charges stem from Pehlivan's October 13, 2021 column titled "Here is CHP's pamphlet", in which he discussed the contents of the pamphlet. Neither journalist attended the hearing, but their lawyer, Özge Naz Akkaya, was present. The session was also attended by Melih Tüfenkci, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s attorney, as well as Samet Yeşiltepe, representing Egemen Bağış, a former minister implicated in the pamphlet. The hearing was observed by Erol Önderoğlu, the Turkey representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
In his final opinion, the prosecutor argued that the column contained expressions such as "he took bribes, laundered money, manipulated the judiciary, and fled," which allegedly damaged the "honor, dignity, and reputation" of the individuals mentioned. As a result, the prosecutor requested that Pehlivan and Yurtoğlu be convicted of both charges.
Egemen Bağış's lawyer supported the prosecutor’s statement, saying, "The defendants are clearly guilty, and we demand their punishment."
Defense lawyer Akkaya objected to the prosecutor's opinion, requesting additional time to prepare a defense. The court granted the request and adjourned the trial to April 29.
Context of the case and charges
The SaBıKa Holding pamphlet, prepared by the CHP, criticized what it described as a corrupt relationship between government officials, the judiciary, and illicit financial activities. It targeted key figures within the Turkish government, including President Erdoğan, former Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, former minister and Czech ambassador Egemen Bağış, former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, and several high-ranking judicial figures, all of whom are listed as complainants in the indictment against Pehlivan and Yurtoğlu.
While CHP members who distributed the pamphlet were previously acquitted, the focus has now shifted to the journalists who reported on the document. Press freedom advocates, including RSF, have expressed concern over the trial, viewing it as another example of growing restrictions on independent journalism in Turkey.
