Presenting their final opinion on the case, prosecutor states the images leading to Tekin’s trial are not unequivocal

DENİZ NAZLIM, ANKARA

The fourth hearing in the trial of documentary filmmaker and journalist Sibel Tekin on charges of “terrorism propaganda” and “violation of the right to work and employment” over covering a protest at the NTV office in Ankara was held at the Ankara 2nd High Criminal Court on 7 November 2024.

Tekin and her lawyer Mehtap Sakinci attended the hearing, which P24 monitored. A witness attended the hearing via the judicial videoconferencing system.

The witness spoke first at the hearing, following identification and said, “I know Sibel Tekin, she is a journalist. I did not see her at the NTV premises.”

The witness was shown a photograph taken at the day of the incident of someone resembling Sibel Tekin. The witness said that the person in the photograph was not Sibel Tekin.

Upon it being established that the person in the photograph was not wearing eyeglasses, the presiding judge asked Tekin whether she wears glasses. Tekin said she wore glasses at the time and still wears them, that she could not function without glasses and repeated that she was not the person in the photograph.

The prosecutor then presented their final opinion on the case and said that the images did not unequivocally establish whether Tekin had entered the NTV premises. The prosecutor stated that as the witness had said Tekin was not in the NTV premises, there was no unequivocal and credible evidence and requested Tekin’s acquittal.

The court ruled to acquit Tekin based on the lack of adequate evidence to support the charges.

Documentary filmmaker Sibel Tekin had followed a protest held at the NTV’s Ankara office nine years ago, upon which she was charged with “terrorism propaganda” and “violation of the right to work and employment.”