Week of October 23: Trials on Journalism and Freedom of Expression

This week will also see hearings in cases related to journalism and freedom of expression. Here is the week's trial schedule:

October 23, Monday

• The trial of Hamdullah Bayram, an employee of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper, will continue at Urfa 2nd Assize Court. Bayram was charged with "being a member of an illegal organization" and "knowingly and willingly aiding and abetting an illegal organization." The charges were related to the distribution of the Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper, which was shut down by a decree with the force of law (KHK). Bayram has been held in Sincan Type F High Security Closed Prison No 2 since March 20, 2023.

• The trial of former Diyarbakır Bar Association President Cihan Aydın and ten lawyers who were members of the executive board of the bar association between 2018 and 2020 will continue at the Diyarbakır 9th High Criminal Court. They are facing allegations of "publicly degrading the Turkish Nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the Government of the Republic of Turkey, and the judicial organs of the state." This is due to a statement they made on April 24, 2020, which was the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The hearing is scheduled at 9:30 AM at Diyarbakır 9th High Criminal Court.

October 24, Tuesday

• The trial of Yetkin Yıldız, Editor-in-Chief of the now-defunct aktifhaber.com, for alleged "insult" and "slander" charges, will take place at Bakırköy 31st Criminal Court of First Instance at 9:45 am. 

• At 10:45 am, the Ankara 74th Criminal Court of First Instance will hold the case against 13 METU students who were protesting the detention of Boğaziçi University students in 2021. 

• The trial of journalist İsmail Arı, who was charged with "insulting a public official" due to the news article titled "Varank's 'cousin' snatched the land with a sea view!" published in Birgün newspaper on November 18, 2022, will take place at Istanbul's 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance at 2:00 pm. 

• The trial of five police officers who used violence against journalist Gökhan Biçici during the Gezi protests will take place at Istanbul 48th Criminal Court of First Instance at 9:38 am.

• The trial of journalists Pınar Gayıp and Mehmet Acettin will begin at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance at 10:20 am. They are facing charges under Article 301/1 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) for "Publicly Denigrating the State of the Republic of Turkey" due to news articles published in ETHA on different dates.

October 25, Wednesday

• JINNEWS Reporter Beritan Canözer, who was arrested on April 27 and released on June 26, will appear before a judge in Diyarbakır for the first time in the case filed against her for "membership in a terrorist organization" within the scope of this investigation. The hearing will be held at Diyarbakır 10th High Criminal Court at 09.45.

• The trial of journalist Can Dundar, known as the MİT TIRs case, will resume at the 14th Assize Court at 10:15 am. In the retrial, which follows the overturning of the Court of Cassation's decision, Dundar, the former Editor-in-Chief of Cumhuriyet newspaper, is accused of "obtaining information on the security of the state for political or military espionage."   

October 26, Thursday

• The first hearing of the case filed against Agence France-Presse (AFP) photojournalist Bülent Kılıç, who was detained while covering the 19th Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride March after being pushed to the ground by the police and his throat was stepped on, due to "resisting to prevent the execution of his duty" and "publicly insulting a public officer because of his duty", will be held at Istanbul 19th Criminal Court of First Instance at 09.40.    Kılıç is being defended by the MLSA.

• The case filed against 11 journalists from Mezopotamya News Agency (MA) and JinNews in Ankara due to "illegal organization membership" will be held at Ankara 4th Assize Court at 09.30.  

• The case filed against former HDP Diyarbakır MP Çağlar Demirel due to "insulting the president" will be heard at Diyarbakır 5th Criminal Court of First Instance at 09.55. 

• The case filed against 16 people who were detained during the "Freedom for Sick Prisoners" vigil organized by the Initiative for Solidarity with Prisoners in front of Yenibosna Forensic Medicine Institution on February 3, 2022, due to "violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911", will be held at Bakırköy 51st Criminal Court of First Instance at 10.45 am.

• The case filed against journalists Aziz Oruç and Ersin Çaksu due to "publicly degrading the State of the Republic of Turkey, its government, judicial organs, military and security forces" through news articles and columns published between October 21 and November 1, 2016 in Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper, which was shut down by a decree law, will be held at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance at 11.15 am.  

• The case filed against journalist Can Dündar and Özgür Gündem newspaper Managing Editor İnan Kızılkaya due to "insulting a public officer" will be held at Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance at 10.15 am. 

• The retrial of journalist Hakkı Boltan, who was sentenced to 2 years and 17 days in prison for "insulting" President Erdoğan and then Prime Minister Davutoğlu in a press statement he made during the curfews, will be held at Diyarbakır 12th Criminal Court of First Instance at 10.10 am.      

• The retrial of journalists Ahmet Altan, Nazlı Ilıcak, Fevzi Yazıcı and Yakup Şimşek on charges of "knowing the July 15 coup attempt in advance" will be held at Istanbul 26th Assize Court at 13.30.

• The retrial of journalists Ertuğrul Mavioğlu and Çayan Demirel due to "making illegal organization propaganda" will be held at Batman 2nd Assize Court.

October 27, Friday

• The case filed against journalist Burhan Ekinci, defended by MLSA, due to "making illegal organization propaganda" will be held at Istanbul 30th Assize Court at 09.35.

• The case filed against Purple Solidarity member Didar Gül, who allegedly insulted then Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu in her speech after the verdict hearing of Deniz Poyraz murder case, will be held at Izmir 27th Criminal Court of First Instance.

• The case filed against journalists Yağmur Kaya and Elif Bayburt, who were detained while watching a protest in front of the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan to support the students detained during the protests that started after President Erdoğan appointed Prof. Dr. Melih Bulu as rector of Boğaziçi University, will be held at Istanbul 17th Criminal Court of First Instance at 11.00 am.

• The trial of Bursa Muhalif newspaper's Managing Editor Ozan Kaplanoğlu, Bursa Muhalif newspaper editor Hatice Nur Derya, cameraman Burhan Gökay Küpeli on charges of "violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations" will continue at Bursa 8th Criminal Court of First Instance at 14.00.