This week, trials related to journalism and freedom of expression charges will continue.
Throughout the week, the MLSA Case Monitoring Unit will share updates from the hearings in Turkish and English on @MLSADavaTakip.
Tuesday, July 16
09:00 - The second hearing of journalist Geşbun Ayşe Kara’s retrial on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” will be held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court.
10:55 - The 21st hearing of the trial of 17 people, including journalists Eylem Sonbahar, Sema Karakurt, and Metin Cihan, charged with “resisting to prevent the performance of duty,” will be held at the Antalya 25th Criminal Court of First Instance. MLSA is representing the journalists in this case.
09:30 - After the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation overturned the previous ruling, the retrial of 15 public officials, seven of whom are detained, held responsible for the murder of Hrant Dink, will begin at the 14th High Criminal Court. The hearing is scheduled to continue for two days.
09:35 - The first hearing of the compensation case filed by MLSA’s Legal Unit against the Ministry of Treasury on behalf of journalist Sedat Yılmaz, who was acquitted in the second hearing after being detained for 230 days due to his journalistic activities, will be held at the Diyarbakır 6th Criminal Court.
Wednesday, July 17
10:00 - 30 people, 23 of whom are detained, who were taken into custody during house raids following the prevention of the planned May Day march from Saraçhane, will appear before the Istanbul 44th Criminal Court of First Instance on charges of “resisting to prevent the performance of duty,” “participating in unlawful meetings and marches without weapons and not dispersing despite warnings,” “intentional injury,” and “damaging public property.”
10:10 - The first hearing of the trial of 17 people, six of whom are detained, who were taken into custody during house raids following the prevention of the planned May Day march from Saraçhane, on charges of “participating in unlawful meetings and marches without weapons and not dispersing despite warnings,” “making propaganda for a terrorist organization,” and “praising the offense and the offender,” will be held at the Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court.
09:20 - The 14th hearing of the trial of Ramazan Ölçen, the publisher of the Azadiya Welat newspaper, which was closed by a decree law, on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization,” will be held at the Diyarbakır 11th High Criminal Court.
11:30 - The third hearing of the trial of four members of the Left Party, who were charged with “insulting the president” due to leaflets they distributed before the 2023 general elections, will be held at the Bolu 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
Thursday, July 18
09:20 - The trial of Mehmet Göcekli, Chief Editor and owner of Demokrat Haber, on charges of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” due to his social media posts, will continue at the Istanbul 27th High Criminal Court.
