MLSA - Artı TV anchor and news presenter Şükran Ekinci gave a statement on the morning of February 15, accompanied by an attorney from the MLSA Legal Unit, facing charges of "spreading misleading information to the public." The charges relate to her social media post about the number of miners trapped under a landslide at the Çöpler Gold Mine in İliç, Erzincan, which she claimed exceeded official figures.
During the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Ekinci, accompanied by Fatih Aydın from the MLSA Legal Unit, acknowledged her post stating, "Authorities said nine workers, but TMMOB Chamber of Metallurgical and Materials Engineers President Türkkolu told T24 that the number of miners trapped is five times the official figure. I hope he is wrong. However, before this collapse, 667 workers had changed shifts!"
"I shared this information on my post after seeing it on the T24 news portal's Twitter account and cited it as the source. The source of the news is İrfan Türkkolu, the president of TMMOB Chamber of Metallurgical and Materials Engineers," said the journalist, adding that she shared the post to inform the public.
In her statement, Ekinci emphasized, "I made this post within the scope of freedom of expression. I categorically deny the accusations against me."
Questioning the legality of the investigation
Fatih Aydın, a lawyer from the MLSA Legal Unit, argued that the investigation was initiated improperly, based on a virtual patrol and open-source research conducted by law enforcement, a practice previously annulled by the Constitutional Court.
"Moreover, my client works for one of the country's largest online news platforms. She has an obligation to inform the public due to her profession," said Aydın, requesting the case be dismissed.
Erzincan, located in eastern Turkey, is known for its mining activities, including the Çöpler Gold Mine, one of the significant mining sites in the region. This case highlights ongoing concerns about freedom of expression and the press in Turkey, amidst debates over legal procedures and digital surveillance by authorities.
