EYLEM SONBAHAR
Turkish author Yavuz Ekinci appeared before the Istanbul 23rd High Criminal Court on Thursday for a retrial on charges of “making terrorist propaganda,” stemming from his 2014 novel Rüyası Bölünenler (Those Whose Dream Was Interrupted). The retrial follows a ruling by a regional appeals court overturning a previous acquittal.
At the Dec. 9, 2024, hearing, the lower court had dismissed the case, but prosecutors appealed the decision. The 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice then overturned the acquittal and sent the case back for retrial, prompting Thursday’s renewed proceedings. Ekinci and his lawyers were present at the hearing, which was also attended by several fellow writers.
Responding to the appeals court's decision, the prosecutor told the court, “The discretion is up to the court.” Ekinci and his legal team rejected the appeals court’s ruling, defending both the literary and legal merits of the novel.
“You can’t put a writer on trial,” Ekinci said in his defense statement. “This novel was published 10 years ago. I request that it be evaluated within the scope of freedom of thought and expression, and that I be acquitted.”
Ekinci’s lawyer, Can Ekinci, emphasized the fictional nature of the book, stating, “When courts and laws impose limits on authors, it creates a significant barrier to creativity. This book was published in 2014, has reached many readers over the past decade, and has been translated into other languages. It is unacceptable to put this on trial after 10 years. We request Ekinci’s acquittal, or if the court disagrees, that the case be dropped due to the statute of limitations.”
Former head of the Batman Bar Association, Erkan Şenses, also spoke in support of Ekinci, saying, “It is clear that this is a novel, and regardless of content, the court should issue an acquittal. If the court holds a different opinion, it is obvious that the statute of limitations has expired, and we therefore request that the case be dismissed.”
The court ordered an inquiry into whether a copy of the book had been submitted to the prosecutor’s office and adjourned the hearing to Oct. 6 at 10:45 a.m.
