The Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), in partnership with Article 19, a London-based human rights organization, has presented a legal opinion to 8th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassations regarding the case of journalist Sinan Aygül, a client of MLSA. Aygül faces charges of 'spreading misleading information' due to his journalistic and social media activities.
The opinion highlights that Aygül is the first journalist in the country to be tried and convicted under this law, facing a 10-month prison sentence. The expert opinion calls for Aygül's acquittal of all charges and demands the examination and annulment of the law he is charged under, citing its inconsistency with international and European standards of freedom of expression.
The opinion emphasizes that the clause 'publicly spreading misleading information' violates freedom of expression. It argues that this clause does not meet the standards of predictability, legitimacy, and necessity in a democratic society as outlined in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The full opinion by Article 19 can be accessed through this link.
