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Trial of Cengiz Çandar’s tweet about the “girl with the red scarf” begins

Trial of Cengiz Çandar’s tweet about the “girl with the red scarf” begins
İstanbul - Trial where journalist Cengiz Çandar and Kemal Işıktaş face “praising offence and the offender” charges based on their Twitter posts from May 2017, began today at İstanbul 30th Criminal Court of First Instance. Defendants were not present in the courtroom due to Çandar residing abroad, and Işıktaş’s state of health. Çandar’s lawyer Erselan Aktan requested his client’s defense statement be taken from Sweden, via rogatory letters.  The prosecutor also demanded Çandar’s statement be taken via rogatory letters, moreover they also requested the issuing of a warrant for Çandar, so that in case he returns to the country his statement can be taken. The court accepted the requests of both the defense and the prosecution, ruling for Çandar’s statement being taken via rogatory letters and issuing a warrant in his name. The hearing was adjourned until April 15.

Case background

Journalist Cengiz Çandar and Kemal Işıktaş face “praising and offence and the offender” charges based on Twitter posts they had posted on May 30, 2017 will be held at İstanbul 30th Criminal Court of First Instance. Çandar, whom MLSA represents in court, faces this charge for a tweet about Ayşe Deniz Karacagil who was killed by ISIS while fighting in Northern Syria:  “Girl with the red scarf, the angel with the warmest smile in Gezi who warmed our hearts, fell to the ground in Raqqa and hurt our hearts by ascending to the stars.” The indictment claims that Karacagil died fighting for a terrorist organization in Raqqa and that praising her on social media would pose an open threat to public peace.
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Medya ve Hukuk Çalışmaları Derneği (MLSA) haber alma hakkı, ifade özgürlüğü ve basın özgürlüğü alanlarında faaliyet yürüten bir sivil toplum kuruluşudur. Derneğimiz başta gazeteciler olmak üzere mesleki faaliyetleri sebebiyle yargılanan kişilere hukuki destek vermektedir.