Eylem Sonbahar
A Turkish court has ruled to maintain judicial control measures against journalists Mehmet Kamış and Ali Çolak, who were released in July, and denied their request for the return of digital materials. The court adjourned the trial to May 6.
The 25th hearing of the case against Kamış, the former deputy editor-in-chief of the now-closed Zaman newspaper, and Çolak, the newspaper’s former culture and arts editor, was held at Istanbul’s 26th High Criminal Court. The two journalists face charges of "attempting to abolish or prevent the functioning of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey," "attempting to overthrow the government of Turkey," "attempting to abolish the constitutional order," and "membership in a terrorist organization."
Kamış and Çolak, who were released on July 25, 2024, under judicial supervision, attended the hearing with their lawyers.
A lawyer representing the Turkish Parliament, Melih Tüfenkci, reiterated the prosecution's demand for the defendants to be punished.
Kamış’s lawyer, Osman Yedekçi, requested the return of his client’s digital materials and the removal of judicial control measures. Meanwhile, Ali Çolak’s lawyer, Enes Malik Kılıç, commented on an expert report examining his client’s bank accounts. "The account under review was opened in 1997, and there are no visible transactions. It is also clear that there is no organizational instruction involved," Kılıç stated.
The court ruled to continue the judicial control measures requiring Kamış and Çolak to sign in at a police station every two weeks and maintain their travel ban. It also denied the request for the return of digital materials, citing the lack of an expert report. The next hearing is scheduled for May 6 at 11:30 a.m.
Background on the case
Kamış and Çolak were defendants in the case known publicly as the "Altans Trial," named after prominent Turkish journalists and writers Ahmet and Mehmet Altan. Their case was separated from the main trial on Sept. 19, 2017, along with eight other suspects who remain at large.
Kamış was arrested in the western Turkish city of Izmir on Nov. 22, 2023. The following day, Istanbul’s 26th High Criminal Court ordered his detention, citing "risk of flight." Çolak surrendered to authorities on July 9, 2024, and was immediately taken into custody. The arrest warrants for the remaining eight suspects have yet to be executed.
