Throughout this week, various cases related to journalism and freedom of expression, facing various allegations, will continue to be heard.
During the week, the MLSA Trial Monitoring Unit will share updates from the hearings in Turkish and English via @MLSADavaTakip.
April 29, Monday
10.00 - The trial of former executives of Taraf newspaper, Ahmet Altan, Yasemin Çongar, Yıldıray Oğur, and journalist Mehmet Baransu, who are being retried on charges of "using documents related to state security for purposes other than destruction, acquisition by deceit" and "disclosing and procuring documents related to state security that should remain confidential," will continue at Istanbul 2nd High Criminal Court.
April 30, Tuesday
09.30 - The initial hearing of the trial against lawyer Burhan Arta, who was detained last April and arrested on charges of "being a member of an organization" based on the statements of confessing witness Ümit Akbıyık, will be held at Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court.
09.30 - The trial of journalist Evrim Kepenek on charges of "insult" will continue at Selçuk Criminal Court of First Instance.
10.00 - The trial of Abdullah Kaya, represented by MLSA, on charges of "membership in an organization" and "aiding an organization," will continue at Ağrı 2nd High Criminal Court.
14.00 - The second session of the trial against journalist Barış Terkoğlu, accused of "defamation" based on a complaint by İsmail Uçar, the Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul Anatolian Courthouse, elected to the Supreme Court last January, will be held at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
May 2, Thursday
09.30 - The first hearing of the trial against lawyer Özüm Vurgun, who was arrested during a raid on his home on April 25, 2023, based on the statements of confessing witness Ümit Akbıyık, on charges of "being a member of an organization" with a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, will be held at Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court.
11.30 - The 11th hearing of the trial against Barış Terkoğlu, concerning articles he wrote in Cumhuriyet newspaper, accused of "targeting individuals involved in counter-terrorism efforts" based on a complaint by Deputy Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek, will be held at Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court.
12.00 - The third hearing of the trial against Eren Keskin, Co-Chair of İHD (Human Rights Association), and Güllistan Yarkın, a member of İHD's Commission Against Racism and Discrimination, on charges of "insulting the state" will be held at Istanbul 51st Criminal Court of First Instance.
13.30 - The 22nd hearing of the trial against Mehmet Kamış, former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the closed Zaman newspaper, on charges of "attempting to abolish the Turkish Grand National Assembly or obstruct its duties," "attempting to abolish or obstruct the duties of the Government of the Republic of Turkey," "attempting to abolish the constitutional order," and "membership in an organization," will be held at Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court.
May 3, Friday
11.35 - The trial of journalist Ziya Çiçekçi, regarding the social media posts made from the account of the newspaper Yeni Özgür Politika where he serves as the editor-in-chief, on charges of "making terrorist propaganda" will continue at Istanbul 33rd High Criminal Court.
