İstanbul - Second hearing of the trial where journalist Canan Coşkun faces “insulting the president” charges was held at İstanbul 40th Criminal Court of First Instance today. The court ruled for Coşkun’s acquittal.
Coşkun presented her defense statement during this hearing. In her statement, Coşkun noted that she was Cumhuriyet’s court reporter at the time when the concerned news story was published. Coşkun is charged for a news story published in Cumhuriyet on 27 November 2015 titled “Journalism arrested per Erdoğan’s order.” Coşkun stated: “I was at the courthouse when Erdem Gül and Can Dündar were arrested. I wrote the news story and sent it to my superior. I was not involved in the editorial process any further. Reporters do not decide on the title of the story,” and demanded her acquittal.
The judge accepted Coşkun’s request immediately and ruled for her acquittal.