This week, trials related to journalism and freedom of expression, opened on various charges, will continue to be heard.
Throughout the week, MLSA Trial Monitoring Unit will share updates on the proceedings in Turkish and English via @MLSADavaTakip.
December 17, Tuesday
09:55 AM – The fourth hearing of the case against lawyer Süleyman Şahin, charged with "membership of a terrorist organization" based on the allegations of confessor Ümit Akbıyık, will be held at Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court.
10:00 AM – The 13th hearing of the case against journalists Ahmet Memiş, Ali Akkuş, Cemal Azmi Kalyoncu, Gökçe Fırat Çulhaoğlu, Ünal Tanık, Yakup Çetin, and Yetkin Yıldız, charged with "membership of an armed (terrorist) organization" and "knowingly and willingly aiding a terrorist organization," will take place at Istanbul 25th High Criminal Court.
10:00 AM – The sixth hearing of the case against İleri Haber Editor-in-Chief İzel Sezer and Managing Editor Batuhan Batan, charged with "publicly insulting via an audible, written, or visual message" and "defamation" following a complaint by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's former lawyer Mustafa Doğan İnal, will be held at Istanbul 25th Criminal Court of First Instance.
10:20 AM – The 10th hearing of the case against honorary chairperson of the Confederation of European Alevi Unions (AABK), Turgut Öker, charged with "insulting the president" over a speech made on the 37th anniversary of the Maraş Massacre, will be heard at Istanbul Anatolian 10th Criminal Court of First Instance.
11:00 AM – The 29th hearing of the case against journalist Şerife Oruç, charged with "membership of a terrorist organization," will be held at Batman 2nd High Criminal Court.
02:00 PM – The trial of 21 individuals detained while protesting Melih Bulu's appointment as rector of Boğaziçi University by President Erdoğan, charged with "violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations," will continue at Ankara 20th Criminal Court of First Instance.
02:30 PM – The second hearing of the case against journalist Tolga Şardan, charged with "openly disseminating misleading information" and "publicly insulting the judiciary," for allegedly reporting on an intelligence report presented to the Presidency, will take place at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
December 18, Wednesday
10:00 AM – The case of journalist Çiğdem Albayrak, charged with "insulting the president," will be reheard at Trabzon Regional Court of Justice 2nd Penal Chamber after the Constitutional Court ruled that the deferred announcement of the verdict (HAGB) constituted a rights violation.
11:20 AM – The fourth hearing of the case against journalist Metin Cihan, charged with "illegally obtaining or disseminating personal data" for sharing documents on social media regarding TÜGVA's alleged cadre-building, improper building allocations, and the transfer of public resources to the foundation, will be held at Istanbul 22nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
December 19, Thursday
09:55 AM – The retrial of Mehmet Şahin, dismissed from his teaching position during the state of emergency (OHAL) and sentenced to six years and three months for "membership of a terrorist organization" based on speeches made at Democratic Society Congress (DTK) meetings on the Kurdish language, will begin at Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court after the appellate court overturned the initial ruling. Şahin, also a columnist for the Kurdish-language newspaper Xwebûn, was previously convicted on this charge.
10:00 AM – The first hearing of the case against Yeni Asya newspaper Editor-in-Chief Kazım Güleçyüz, charged with "membership of a terrorist organization" over a social media post following Fethullah Gülen's death, will take place at Istanbul 28th High Criminal Court.
11:10 AM – The retrial of Özgür Gündem newspaper executives and writers Hüseyin Aykol, Ayşe Batumlu Kaya, Eren Keskin, and Reyhan Çapan, charged with "making propaganda for a terrorist organization" and "openly inciting others to commit crimes" for allegedly publishing content legitimizing violent acts, will continue at Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court.
