Medine Mamedoğlu
Diyarbakır - The second hearing of filmmaker Rojhilat Aksoy, against whom a case was filed on the charge of “publicly insulting state institutions” due to the screening of the animated film “Aurora’s Sunrise,” which is about the Armenian Genocide, was held at the Diyarbakır 22nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
Due to heavy workload, the hearing started approximately half an hour late.
At the hearing, which began with identity verification, the prosecutor presented his opinion on the merits and requested that Aksoy be punished.
Speaking afterward, lawyer Fırat Yıldız stated that they did not agree with the opinion and asked for his client’s acquittal. Yıldız said that such trials restrict freedom of expression and create pressure on art.
Stating that his client was not the director of the film and only took part in the screening process, Yıldız said: “Even if he were the director, this situation should be evaluated within the scope of freedom of expression. There are precedent rulings of the European Court of Human Rights on this issue. There are existing decisions in which persons and institutions tried over statements regarding the events of 1915—including the Diyarbakır Bar Association—have been acquitted.”
After the defense statements, the court ruled for Aksoy’s acquittal.
