Rabia Çetin
The prosecutor in the trial of 41 individuals, including journalist Vedat Örüç, charged with violating Turkey’s Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, has presented their final opinion. The prosecutor requested penalties for 40 defendants, including three journalists, under the relevant provisions of the law.
Journalists Taylan Özgür Öztaş, Tunahan Turhan, and Vedat Örüç—whose defense is being handled by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA)—were among those on trial for covering a protest held on Aug. 19, 2019, in Kadıköy, Istanbul. The protest was organized in response to the Turkish government’s decision to appoint trustees to replace the elected mayors of the metropolitan municipalities of Diyarbakır, Mardin, and Van in southeastern Turkey. The 12th hearing of the case was held at Istanbul Anadolu 76th Criminal Court of First Instance.
During the hearing, journalist Tunahan Turhan and several attorneys were present. Following Turhan’s defense statement, the prosecutor presented their final opinion, requesting the acquittal of 39 individuals, including Örüç, Öztaş, and Turhan, on charges of "resisting to prevent public officials from performing their duties." However, the prosecutor sought the conviction of 40 defendants, including these journalists, for violating the law on meetings and demonstrations. Additionally, the prosecutor requested the conviction of defendant Müjdat Uzunyay—who is already in custody on separate charges—for resisting public officials. For İbrahim Akdemir, who was determined to have passed away during the trial process, the prosecutor called for the charges against him to be dropped.
The court panel accepted the attorneys’ request for additional time to prepare their defense statements in response to the prosecutor's opinion. The next hearing is scheduled for March 25 at 11:30 a.m.
