- Journalist Altan Sancar has given his first statement in a trial in which he is charged with “spreading misleading information,” saying the posts in question belonged to him but were shared as part of his journalistic activity.
İzmir/MLSA - The case against Sancar is being heard by the Ankara 27th Criminal Court of First Instance. His statement was taken via judicial instruction at the Seferihisar 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance, in Seferihisar, a coastal district in Turkey’s western İzmir province.
In his testimony, Sancar confirmed that the social media posts cited in the indictment were his. He said he has been working as a journalist for 13 years and noted that at the time of the posts, a process known in public debate as the “absolute nullity case” was on the agenda.
“As a journalist, I shared the information I had received,” Sancar said. “Later, a campaign was launched on social media regarding my detention, and I am being prosecuted within the scope of this file.”
Sancar said no action was taken against other journalists who made similar posts during the same period. “I only did my job. I do not accept the accusations against me,” he said, adding that he recently began working as an advisor for the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
He requested acquittal. In his additional defense statement, he said he repeated his previous remarks and did not request additional time to prepare further defense statements.
About the case
A half-page indictment was prepared against Sancar over a post stating, “There are reports that a trustee will be appointed to the CHP.” Regarding the post, Sancar previously said, “I stand behind the information I shared. I will not take a step back.”
The next hearing at the Ankara 27th Criminal Court of First Instance is scheduled for April 9.
