Journalism and freedom of expression trials: Week of September 18

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

September 18, Monday

• The trial filed against Dr. Hüseyin Yaviç, former chair of Van-Hakkari Medical Chamber, and Sevim Çiçek, representative of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT), for participating in a press declaration in Van in 2021, on the charge of "violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911", will be held at Van 4th Criminal Court of First Instance at 11.00 am.

September 19, Tuesday

• Journalist Abdullah Kaya, defended by MLSA, will face trial at Ağrı 2nd High Criminal Court at 9:10 am. The charges against him include "membership in a terrorist organization" and "making propaganda for a terrorist organization." The indictment cites Kaya's news reports and social media posts as evidence of these criminal offenses.

• The trial of journalist Şerife Oruç, arrested in 2016 while reporting for Dicle News Agency (DİHA), which was closed by a law decree, will be held at Batman 2nd Assize Court at 10:10 am.

• The trial of Turgut Öker, former HDP MP and Honorary President of European Alevi Unions, who was charged with "insulting the President" due to his remarks at the commemoration of the 37th anniversary of the Maraş incidents, will continue at Istanbul Anadolu 10th Criminal Court of First Instance at 11.40 am. 

• The trial of journalist Sultan Eylem Keleş, defended by MLSA, on charges of "insulting a public officer" and "resisting to prevent the execution of her duty" will be held at Istanbul 56th Criminal Court of First Instance at 11.55 am. Journalist Keleş was detained during the police intervention against the protest of BİMEKS workers, who were laid off in 2020 without receiving their accumulated salaries and compensation, in front of the Boğaziçi University campus, where their boss, Prof. Dr. Vedat Akgiray teaches. 

• The trial filed against journalist Furkan Karabay, who reported on the backstage of the judiciary, upon the complaint of President Erdoğan's lawyers, alleging "insult" and "slander," will be held at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance at 13.30 pm. In the indictment, Karabay is accused of "insult" and "slander" in an article published in Gerçek Gündem on June 22, 2022, titled "Istanbul detail in the 'Antalya' operation in the judiciary: What are the appointed prosecutors indicative of?" is cited as evidence.

September 20, Wednesday 

• The trial of 49 people, including journalists journalist Yağmur Kaya, defended by MLSA, Nebiye Arı and Hilal Işık, will be held at Ankara 15th Criminal Court of First Instance at 10.00 am. 49 people who were beaten and detained at the entrance of Ankara on the day of the "We Can't Shelter" demonstration of university students are on trial for "violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations".

• A trial involving 11 defendants, including Erhan Tuncel, Ramazan Akyürek, Yasin Hayal, and Ali Fuat Yılmazer, who have been charged in connection with the murder of journalist Hrank Dink, the Editor-in-Chief of Agos newspaper, will be held at Istanbul's 14th High Criminal Court at 10.00 am. The charges against the defendants include "attempting to overthrow the constitutional order," "membership of an armed terrorist organization," and "intentional killing."

• The trial filed against artist Ferhat Tunç due to "inciting the public to hatred and hostility" through his social media posts will be held at Büyükçekmece 4th Criminal Court of First Instance at 10.15 am. 

• The trial filed against Boğaziçi University LGBTI+ Studies Club due to "insulting the National Anthem" after an e-mail sent to club members in 2019 was shared on social media will be held at Istanbul 18th Criminal Court of First Instance at 14.20 pm.

September 21, Thursday

• The trial of 38 people, including journalists Taylan Özgür Öztaş, Tunahan Turhan, and journalist Vedat Örüç, defended by MLSA, on charges of "violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations" will be held at Anadolu 13th Criminal Court of First Instance at 09.30 am. The journalists are on trial for covering a protest in Kadıköy in 2019 against the dismissal of the mayors of Diyarbakır, Mardin, and Van Metropolitan Municipalities.

• The trial involving Ramazan Yurttapan, the Managing Editor of Demokratik Modernite magazine, as well as Haydar Ergül, Cihan Doğan, Musa Şanak, and Zülal Nazan Üstündağ, whose articles were featured in the 37th issue of the magazine, is scheduled to take place at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance at 10:10 am.

• The trial of journalist Mete Cem Bahtiyar for "spreading propaganda for an illegal organization" on social media will take place at the Balıkesir 3rd Assize Court at 10:50 am.

• The trial filed against Cumhuriyet newspaper columnist Miyase İlknur and Birol Gülger, responsible manager of the newspaper's website, due to "insult" and "defamation" upon the complaint of Constitutional Court member İrfan Fidan, will be held at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance at 14.00. The journalists are accused of "openly targeting" Fidan in a column titled "The Isle of Man case is clear," published on April 16, 2022.

September 22,  Friday

• The trial filed against Fırat University lecturer Hifzullah Kutum for "making propaganda for an illegal organization" through his social media posts will be heard at Elazığ 2nd High Criminal Court. 

• The charges were filed against Ramazan Yurttapan, Managing Editor of Demokratik Modernite Magazine, Pakrat Estukyan, Armenian pages editor of Agos Newspaper, lawyer Emran Emekçi, Mehmet Nimet Sevim, and Cihan Doğan, for "making propaganda for a terrorist organization," will be held at Istanbul 30th High Criminal Court at 11.10 am.

• The trial against artist Ferhat Tunç due to "making propaganda for a terrorist organization" through eight tweets he shared about the Turkish Armed Forces' Olive Branch operation in Afrin will be held at Istanbul 37th Assize Court at 11.15 am.

• The court case involving journalist Sibel Hürtaş, who is accused of "insulting a public official" in an article published on the Artı Gerçek website in August 2020, will take place at the Ankara 19th Criminal Court of First Instance at 2:30 pm. The complaint was filed by Brigadier General Subutay Adas.

• The trial filed against journalist Barış Pehlivan and Mustafa Büyüksipahi, then Cumhuriyet Newspaper's Editorial Coordinator, due to "insulting a public official through his duty" through their news reports on Hamit Kocabey, a former member of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) who allegedly resigned upon the instruction of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Leader Devlet Bahçeli, and his lawyer son Nizameddin Kocabey, will be held at Ankara 19th Criminal Court of First Instance at 15.00.