This week, the hearings for cases related to journalism and freedom of expression, filed on various charges, are scheduled to take place.
Journalist Can Ataklı, facing charges of "incitement or denigration of the public to hatred and hostility" due to his remarks about the father of a soldier who lost his life in the Pençe-Kilit operation, will stand trial this week at the Istanbul 5th Criminal Court of First Instance. Among the journalists appearing before the judge this week are Ayça Söylemez, Kürşat Yılmaz, Görkem Kınacı; Zilan Azad, and Yağmur Kaya, with representation by MLSA.
Additionally, the hearing for the closure case against the Migration Monitoring Association (GÖÇİZDER), which documents cases of forced migration and creates reports for observation, is scheduled for this week.
The MLSA Case Tracking Unit will provide updates on these hearings in both Turkish and English via @MLSADavaTakip.
Tuesday, March 19
- 10.00 - The second hearing of the case against journalist Ayça Söylemez, accused of "targeting individuals involved in the fight against terrorism" following a complaint by Deputy Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, will convene at Istanbul's 29th Assize Court.
- 10.15 - The eighth hearing of the case involving Turgut Öker, Honorary President of the Confederation of European Alevi Unions (AABK), and former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP, facing charges of "insulting the President," will be held at Istanbul's Anadolu 10th Criminal Court of First Instance.
- 10.55 - The first hearing of the trial against journalist Can Ataklı, charged with "incitement or insulting the public to hatred and hostility," is scheduled at Istanbul's 5th Criminal Court of First Instance.
- 14.00 - The fourth hearing of the case against Kürşat Yılmaz, Publisher of Evrensel newspaper, and Managing Editor Görkem Kınacı, accused of "slander" and "insult" based on a complaint by Serhat Albayrak, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Turkuvaz Media Group, will take place at Istanbul's 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
Wednesday, March 20
- 09.30 - The second hearing of the closure case against the Migration Monitoring Association (GÖÇİZDER) will convene at Bakırköy's 15th Civil Court of First Instance.
- 10.00 - The trial known as the World Day of Peace case, involving 100 defendants including journalist Zilan Azad, represented by MLSA, will be held at Istanbul's Anatolia 17th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Thursday, March 21
- 09.13 - The ninth hearing of the lawsuit filed against Çağlar Demirel, former Diyarbakır MP and Deputy Group Chair of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), due to "insulting the president" in his speeches at two separate events, will be held at Diyarbakır 5th Criminal Court of First Instance.
- 09.35 – The 27th hearing of journalist Şerif Oruç, charged with "being a member of an illegal organization," will be held at Batman's 2nd High Criminal Court.
- 09.50 – The 13th hearing of the case against journalist Rüstem Batum, represented by MLSA, charged with "inciting the public to hatred and hostility," will convene at Istanbul's 5th Criminal Court of First Instance.
- 10.00 – The fourth hearing of the case involving 11 former HDP MYK members, accused of "denigrating the Turkish nation, the state of the Republic of Turkey, the institutions and organs of the state" due to their statement on the Armenian Genocide, will convene at Ankara's 48th Criminal Court of First Instance.
- 10.20 – The fourth hearing of the case against JinNews reporter Rozerin Gültekin, detained while covering a demonstration in Gemlik for "violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations," will be held at Bursa's 18th Criminal Court of First Instance.
Friday, March 22
- 10.00 - The trial of the case against journalist Zeynep Durgut and 17 women, who were beaten and detained while following the women's statement on the Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Şırnak, on charges of "opposing meetings and demonstrations" will start at Şırnak Criminal Court of First Instance.
- 11.00 - The trial of journalist Yağmur Kaya, represented by MLSA, will continue at Istanbul's 17th Criminal Court of First Instance after she was detained with 51 Boğaziçi University students during a press statement she was covering, on charges of "violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations."
