Throughout this week, various cases concerning journalism and freedom of expression will continue to be heard.
MLSATrial Monitoring Unit will share updates from the hearings in Turkish and English via @MLSADavaTakip.
May 14, Tuesday
09:00 – The 12th hearing of the case filed against 17 people, including journalist Sema Karakurt and Eylem Sonbahar, who is defended by MLSA, due to the G20 summit protests in Antalya in 2015, with the allegations of "resisting to prevent the execution of duty" and "insult" will be held at Antalya 25th Criminal Court of First Instance.
09.30 - The first hearing of the case filed against Gurbet Özbey, one of the 25 lawyers detained as part of the investigation launched following the testimonies of confessing witness Ümit Akbıyık, due to "being a member of an illegal organization" on the grounds of her activities as a lawyer, will be held at Diyarbakır 5th Assize Court.
10:00 - The fifth hearing of the trial against Tarlabaşı Community Support Association, filed for "determination of absence," will take place at Istanbul 8th Civil Court of First Instance.
11:00 - The fourth hearing of the trial of Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Mehmet Şah Oruç, charged with "being a member of a terrorist organization" and "making terrorist propaganda," will be held at Bitlis 2nd Heavy Penal Court.
11:25 - The third hearing of the trial where Yeni Yaşam Chief Editor Mehmet Ferhat Çelik and Responsible Managing Editor Osman Akın are accused of "defamation" and "insult" based on a complaint by Serhat Albayrak, Vice Chairman of Turkuvaz Media Group, will be held at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
13:30 - The second hearing of the trial concerning the "public denigration of religious values adopted by a segment of the population" and "insulting the President" allegations, involving 10 individuals, including students and alumni, related to the 'Cow Festivity' tradition celebrated since the 1930s at Ankara University Faculty of Political Sciences (Mülkiye), will be held at Ankara 68th Criminal Court of First Instance.
14:00 - The fourth hearing of the trial where actor İlyas Salman is accused of "insult" based on a complaint by President Erdoğan, will take place at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.
May 15, Wednesday
09:15 - The fourth session of the retrial of journalist Hayri Demir, accused of "being a member of a terrorist organization" and "making terrorist propaganda," will be held at Ankara 15th Heavy Penal Court.
May 16, Thursday
09:25 - The sixth hearing of the trial initiated by AKP Ankara Deputy Ali İhsan Arslan for compensation against former İleri Haber Editor-in-Chief Doğan Ergün and News Director İzel Sezer, regarding the article titled 'Million-Dollar Bid Rigging in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,' will be held at Ankara 20th Civil Court of First Instance.
09.30 - The first hearing of the case filed against lawyer Serhat Hezer, who was detained based on the testimonies of confessing witness Ümit Akbıyık and detained for 28 days, due to "being a member of an illegal organization" for his defense activities, will be held at Diyarbakır 5th Assize Court.
09:40 - The trial of journalist Furkan Karabay, accused of "targeting" former Court of Cassation Member Okan Albayrak, Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Şaban Yılmaz, and Murat Bircan, a member of Istanbul 13th Heavy Penal Court, based on his news reports and social media posts, will commence at Istanbul 24th Heavy Penal Court.
10:00 - The 83rd session of the 'Kobani Trial,' involving 108 individuals, including former HDP Co-Chairs Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş, 18 of whom are in detention, will be held at Ankara 22nd Heavy Penal Court located in Sincan Prison Complex.
May 17, Friday
10:10 - The trial of journalist İrfan Uçar, suing the Ministry of Treasury for material and moral damages due to an unauthorized raid on his home, confiscation of materials, and imposition of judicial control, will be held at Gaziantep 1st Heavy Penal Court.
11:15 - The fourth hearing of the trial against journalist Barış Terkoğlu, accused of "insult" based on a complaint by Süheyb Öğüt, ex-husband of Sabah newspaper columnist Hilal Kaplan, over the interview titled 'The Istanbul War of the Pelicans,' will be held at Istanbul Anatolian 27th Criminal Court of First Instance.
