İstanbul - Second hearing of the trial where journalist Hasan Cemal faces “terrorist propaganda” charges resumed at İstanbul 36th High Criminal Court today. Cemal faces this allegation for a column he wrote for T24 website on 4 December 2015 titled “From Silvan: They’ve accustomed us to sorrow and death...”
Turkey Journalists’ Syndicate director Gökhan Durmuş attended the trial. Journalist Hasan Cemal and his lawyer Fikret İlkiz were present in the courtroom as well.
The judge announced that the court received responses to the letters written to Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court and İstanbul General Directorate of Security’s Anti-Cyber Crime Unit as it was decided in the previous hearing. Cemal stated that he has nothing to say in response to these responses and presented his defense statement in writing. It was noted that Cemal has another case where he is charged with “terrorist propaganda” at the İstanbul 22nd High Criminal Court and that it would be better if both cases were merged. However, it was stated that this was impossible since Cemal’s conviction has been finalized for that case.
The prosecutor presented their final opinion as to the accusations during this hearing and demanded up to 9 years in prison for Cemal. Lawyer Fikret İlkiz requested additional time to prepare a defense in response. The court accepted this request and adjourned the trial until 7 May.
