In a hearing heard on 26 March, Erdem Avşar, the responsible editor-in-chief of Yeniçağ newspaper, has been acquitted of insult charges but convicted of libel and sentenced to one year and 15 days in prison. The case stems from a news story published on Yeniçağ's website on August 27, 2022, headlined "The Secret in the 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th Tweets Revealed: Sedat Peker Exposes the Name Behind Ali Fuat Taşkesenlioğlu." The complaint was filed by Serhat Albayrak, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Turkuvaz Media Group.
The fourth hearing of the trial, which revolved around accusations of "libel" and "insult," was attended by Avşar and his lawyer, Temel İzzet Köz. Albayrak's lawyer, Saime İrem Poyraz, was also present.
Poyraz argued that Avşar's articles, based on unsubstantiated social media sources, were intended to create a negative public perception of her client. In response, Avşar defended the publication, asserting that the report covered a matter of public interest and contained no personal commentary.
Avşar's lawyer, Köz, emphasized that the allegations were made by Sedat Peker and not Avşar himself, arguing that his client was exercising his constitutional right to press freedom by reporting on these claims.
The court, citing that the act attributed to the defendant was not defined as a crime under the law, acquitted Avşar of the insult charge. However, he was found guilty of libel and handed a prison sentence.
