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.