In Osmaniye, KHK TV reporter Ahmet Erkan Yiğitsözlü, who was dismissed from Anadolu Agency (AA) by a Statutory Decree (KHK), asserted that journalism itself is being judged, not just him, during the first hearing of his trial. He faces charges of "membership in an armed terrorist organization" and "violating the Law on Preventing Financing of Terrorism." The hearing took place today, April 30, 2024, at the Osmaniye 2nd High Criminal Court.
Yiğitsözlü, who is being tried without detention, attended the court with his lawyers, Günal Kurşun and Celil Çetin. Observers from the Green Left Party, Human Rights Association (İHD), Liberal Party, Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV), and the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) were also present.
In his defense, Yiğitsözlü emphasized his role as an international journalist and his voluntary contributions to KHK TV, where he covered stories of individuals whose rights were violated during the KHK process on his YouTube channel. He highlighted that out of 2,100 videos, not a single one contained any criminal element. Yiğitsözlü argued that this trial infringes on his right to freedom of expression and that it is an attempt to silence journalism.
His lawyer, Günal Kurşun, pointed out the classification and proof issues in the indictment, specifically criticizing the portrayal of the Signal messaging app as a "criminal" tool in the indictment. Kurşun noted that even the President's son-in-law has tweeted about using Signal, illustrating the app's legitimacy and widespread use.
The court accepted the prosecutor's request to impose a travel ban and judicial control measures on Yiğitsözlü, and adjourned the trial to September 19.
This case follows Yiğitsözlü's arrest on November 15, 2022, as part of an investigation led by the Osmaniye Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into allegations of "membership in an armed terrorist organization" and "violating the law on preventing terrorism financing." He was released by the Osmaniye Criminal Judgeship of Peace on November 17, 2022.
