Journalism and freedom of expression trials: Week of July 10

This week, the hearings of numerous freedom of expression trials will be held. Below is the list of these hearings:

July 10, Monday

• The second hearing of the trial of Jin News reporter Öznur Değer and 23 activists on charges of "defying the Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations" and "prevention of public duty" will be held at Ankara 18th Criminal Court of First Instance at 00.

July 11, Tuesday

• The first hearing of the trial of Dicle Firat Journalists Association (DFG) Co-Chair Serdar Altan, Xwebûn Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Ali Ertaş, Mesopotamia Agency (MA) editor Aziz Oruç, journalists Elif Üngür, İbrahim Koyuncu, Lezgin Akdeniz, Mazlum Güler, Mehmet Şahin, Neşe Toprak, Ömer Çelik, Ramazan Geciken, Suat Doğuhan, Zeynel Abidin Bulut, Abdurrahman Öncü, and Remziye Temel, who were arrested on June 16, 2022, and journalists Kadir Bayram, Esmer Tunç and Mehmet Yalçın, who are being tried without detention, on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” will be held at Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court at 00.
• The ninth hearing of the trial against 15 people, including 13 Peace Mothers, one lawyer and one Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) member, who were detained during a protest held on May 9, 2019 in front of the Bakırköy Women’s Prison to draw attention to the hunger strikes in prisons, will be held at İstanbul 23rd High Criminal Court at 20. The defendants face charges of “knowingly and willingly aiding a terrorist organization”, “making propaganda for a terrorist organization”, “defying the Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations” and “prevention of public duty”.
• The eighth hearing in the trial in which 7 women and LGBTİ+ activists, including journalist Şehriban Alkış, face charges of “defying the Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations”, “preventing the activities of a public institution”, “prevention of public duty”, and “damage to public property” will be held at the İstanbul 23rd Criminal Court of First Instance at 45.
• The second hearing of the trial of JinNews reporter Rozerin Gültekin who had covered the protests called “Gemlik March” on June 12, 2022 and faces charges of “defying the Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations" will be held at the Bursa 18th Criminal Court of First Instance at 10.
• The sixth hearing of the trial in which 17 women, who had attended the 19th Feminist Night March held on the Istiklal Avenue on 8 March 2021, face charges of “defying the Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations” and “insulting the president” will be held in the Istanbul 10th Criminal Court of First Instance at 45.
• The second hearing of the trial in which BirGün newspaper reporter İsmail Arı faces the charge of “insulting a public official” will be held at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance at 00.
• The sixth hearing of the trial in which journalists İrfan Tunççelik, Ümit Turhan Çoşkun and 11 Peace Mothers face charges of “committing an offense on behalf of an organization without being a member of the organization” and “defying the Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations” will be held in the İstanbul 23rd High Criminal Court at 30.

July 12, Wednesday

• The second hearing of the trial of 16 persons who were detained at the commemoration of the Suruç massacre in Kadıköy on July 20, 2022 and who face the charge of “prevention of public duty” will be held at Istanbul Anatolian 69th Criminal Court of First Instance at 00.

July 13, Thursday

• The 11th hearing of the trial of journalist Rüstem Batum, whom MLSA represents in court, on charges of “insulting the president” and “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” will be held at Istanbul 5th Criminal Court of First Instance at 45.
• The second hearing of the trial of Cumhuriyet newspaper reporter Nagihan Yılkın and former cumhuriyet.com.tr Editor-in-Chief Mustafa Büyüksipahi on charges of "ınsulting a public official" on the grounds of a news article titled "Criminal complaint against the Governorship of Gaziantep: Corruption and bribery network revealed" published on the website of Cumhuriyet newspaper on March 15, 2022, will be held Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance at 15.

July 14, Friday

• The ninth hearing of the trial of 7 Boğaziçi University students on charges of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” will be held at the Istanbul 21st Criminal Court of First Instance at 45.