In a lawsuit filed by Mustafa Doğan İnal, former lawyer of President Erdoğan, against journalist Furkan Karabay for a social media post, a decision was made to evaluate the objection to jurisdiction at a later date.
The first hearing of the emotional damages lawsuit against journalist Furkan Karabay took place today (April 4, 2024) at the 32nd Civil Court of First Instance in Istanbul. Karabay, who did not attend the hearing, was represented by his lawyer Özge Naz Akkaya. İnal’s lawyer, Ferah Yıldız, participated in the hearing via an e-hearing system.
During the hearing, where lawyer Yıldız requested the acceptance of the lawsuit, Karabay’s lawyer Akkaya stated they had objections to the jurisdiction. Akkaya claimed that the competent court should be a law court at the Istanbul Anatolian Courthouse, noting, "A decision of lack of jurisdiction was given by the 46th Civil Court of First Instance in Istanbul for a similar case subject."
Akkaya requested the dismissal of the lawsuit after addressing deficiencies.
The court decided to postpone the hearing to May 28, 2024, ordering the case file from the 46th Civil Court of First Instance in Istanbul to be sent via the National Judiciary Informatics System (UYAP). The court also decided to evaluate the objection to jurisdiction raised by Karabay’s lawyer at a later date.
Background of the case
Ismail Uçar, the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor, wrote to the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK), alleging that decisions regarding access blocking and release were being made in exchange for money at the Anatolian Courthouse. On November 2, 2023, journalist Furkan Karabay posted on his personal account on platform X:
“Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor Ismail Uçar spoke of decisions regarding access blocking and release being made in exchange for money at the courthouse where he works. Regular visitors to that courthouse included Mustafa Doğan İnal, who also served as a lawyer for President Erdoğan, Bilal Erdoğan, and Metin Güneş. Judge Sidar Demiroğlu, alleged to have ‘sold justice’ for money, covered up a bloody incident involving İnal and Güneş. Will those who conducted operations against journalists Tolga Şardan and Dinçer Gökçe, describing the situation in the judiciary as ‘making the FETÖ-affiliated judges and prosecutors look merciful,’ act against these names too? Prosecutor Uçar, in his petition to the HSK on October 6, spoke of 4th Peace Criminal Judge Sidar Demiroğlu releasing drug traffickers, armed robbers, and illegal betting barons.”
Based on this post, an emotional damages lawsuit for 250,000 TL was filed against Karabay by Mustafa Doğan İnal, former lawyer of President Erdoğan, on the grounds of an "unjust attack on personal rights."
