Journalist Ruşen Takva has been acquitted of “spreading false information,” commonly known as the "disinformation law"

VAN

The second hearing in the trial of journalist Ruşen Takva on charges of “spreading false information” over a social media post on the alleged involvement of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Hakkâri Office President Fatih Özbek in an armed assault was held at the Hakkâri 1st Criminal Court of First Instance on 6 September 2023.

Takva and his lawyer Burcu Şeber attended the hearing via the judicial videoconferencing system from the Van 5th Criminal Court of First Instance. The hearing, which P24 monitored, was attended by many people, including representatives of rights groups and journalism organizations.

The prosecution requests sentencing

The prosecutor submitted their final opinion on the case and said that following the posts subject to the charge, disorder erupted in the streets of Hakkâri and requested sentencing for Takva for the offense of “spreading false information.”

Making his defense against the opinion, Takva said, “In their opinion, the prosecutor has claimed that disorder erupted in the streets of Hakkâri following my post and therefore requested that I should be sentenced for ‘spreading false information.’ However, I wrote the news item after disorder in the streets began and accompanied by videos of the disorder in the streets. So, there was already disorder and shops had shut down over the same allegation.”

“It is journalism that is on trial”

Takva continued his defense statement as follows: “This indictment once more shows that it is journalism that is on trial and a stage play is being put on featuring the MHP, the minor partner of the government, as the lead actor. It was clear that such a case would be filed considering the statement of the Governor’s Office of Hakkâri that defended the MHP Province Office President who was later replaced for inflicting violence on healthcare workers. Given all this, we see how the state has lost all seriousness through the courts. Wherever in Turkey such an incident should take place, I will once more practice my duty as a journalist in the same way, to uphold the right of the people to be informed.”

Takva rejected the charge and requested his acquittal.

Takva’s lawyer delivered a counter-statement against the prosecutor’s opinion and said the opinion of the prosecutor was politically motivated and continued: “In the news item subject to the charge, the incident was described in full detail and all that took place in the town was presented to the public without interpretation and in line with professional ethical principles. In countries which claim to be democratic, such a complaint would not lead to a court case. However, this most recent process has seen even more shackles being attached to the press and free space being even further narrowed down. I request my client’s approval on grounds that elements of the impugned crime did not exist.”

Announcing its ruling following the defense statements, the court ruled to acquit journalist Takva on the grounds that the elements of the impugned crime did not exist.

Takva was put on trial over his 7 December 2022 dated social media post on the allegation that MHP Hakkâri Office President Fatih Özbek was involved in an armed assault.