The trial of journalist İdris Yılmaz, who faces charges over a social media post about alleged police violence during protests in Van, has begun at the Erciş 4th Criminal Court of First Instance. Yılmaz is accused of "inciting the public to disobey the law," "openly inciting hatred and hostility," and "publicly disseminating misleading information." The charges stem from his April 3, 2024, post, which stated, "It is alleged that police in Van randomly assaulted civilians. A civilian walking on Cumhuriyet Avenue was attacked by dozens of officers."
The protest in question was against the denial of the mayoral mandate to Abdullah Zeydan of the People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), who was elected as Van Metropolitan Municipality co-mayor.
Defense highlights lack of evidence
Represented by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), Yılmaz participated in the hearing via the SEGBIS video-conferencing system from Istanbul’s 28th Criminal Court of First Instance. His lawyer, Muhammed Ünsal of MLSA’s Legal Unit, was present in court.
Yılmaz began his defense by explaining that he had already provided testimony to the Van Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, which had issued a non-prosecution decision on the matter. "As a journalist working in the region, I wrote in my post that these events were alleged," Yılmaz said, adding that the individual allegedly subjected to police violence later filed a complaint with the relevant authorities.
Yılmaz noted that a photo of the assaulted individual had been shared widely on social media, and he confirmed that his press card had been submitted to the case file when asked by the judge.
Attorney Ünsal argued that the case lacked any substantive evidence. He also referenced a Constitutional Court ruling that invalidated law enforcement’s virtual patrol authority, which he said was relevant to this case. "There is nothing in this file that constitutes credible evidence. My client fulfilled his duty as a journalist by informing the public," Ünsal said.
Court delays proceedings for further review
The court ordered the Van Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office to confirm whether the previous non-prosecution decision regarding Yılmaz's post had become final. The trial was adjourned to Jan. 9, 2025.
This case underscores the challenges faced by journalists in Turkey, particularly those reporting on sensitive issues such as police violence or government policies, where freedom of expression frequently clashes with legal accusations.
