Court ruled for the trial to be continued even though the village guard who entered the polling station with a long-barreled gun and tried to vote withdrew his complaint

NİMET ÖLMEZ, VAN

The first hearing in the trial of Ağrı-based journalist Abdullah Kaya on the charge of “obtaining or disseminating personal information unlawfully” was held at the Diyadin Criminal Court of First Instance on 18 September 2024.

Journalist Kaya is on trial for having taken the photo of a village guard who entered a school with a long-barreled gun and tried to vote in the general elections on 14 May 2023 in Diyadin district of Ağrı. Although the village guard C.Y. stated that he did not file a complaint against Kaya, the court ruled for the case to be continued.

Kaya: I did my duty as a journalist

In his defense statement at the hearing, Kaya said, “I am doing my duty within the scope of freedom of the press and freedom of expression. The village guard here may not realize it, but we journalists do this kind of reporting for the good of public. Freedom of the press is guaranteed by the Turkish Constitution. I reported news in line with professional principles.”

Kaya's lawyer Zülfü Polat stated that his client is a journalist and reporting news is not a crime. Polat said, “The real crime is going to the polling station with a gun during the elections. I demand the acquittal of my client.”

At the end of the hearing, the court announced its interim decision and adjourned the trial until 21 February 2025.