The case was filed over five articles which appeared in the Taraf newspaper in 2010

The final hearing in the action for damages filed by retired General Çetin Doğan against Ahmet Altan, Yasemin Çongar, Mehmet Baransu, Yıldıray Oğur and the Taraf newspaper over reporting on the “Balyoz coup plan” which appeared in the newspaper in 2010 was held at the Anadolu 9th Civil Court of First Instance on 8 May 2024.

The court ruled to dismiss the case against the Taraf newspaper on grounds of procedure due to the lack of meeting trial conditions and accepted the case against the other defendants. According to the court ruling, the defendants are to pay Çetin Doğan TL 50,000 in damages over the five news items which were published in Taraf in January 2010.

The action for damages, which was initially filed with the Kadıköy 2nd Civil Court of First Instance on 5 November 2010 by Çetin Doğan for “attack on his personality rights” was rejected by the court on 22 May 2012. Doğan and his lawyers had appealed the ruling, which was also rejected.

Doğan and his lawyers then filed an application with the Constitutional Court on 7 March 2014 over “violation of the right to dignity and good standing.” The Constitutional Court ruled unanimously for a violation on 27 February 2019 and returned the case to the Anadolu 9th Civil Court of First Instance for a retrial.