“Agents of influence” article removed from law proposal; prosecutor requests acquittal in Dink trial; journalist Haydar Ergül and 12 others acquitted in “KCK Academy” case; sentencing sought for seven journalists in two cases; action for damages against Timur Soykan over his book

“Agents of influence” article removed from proposed 9th Judicial Package

Republican People’s Party (CHP) Parliamentary Group Deputy President Murat Emir met a group of journalists in Parliament on 13 June 2024. Answering journalists’ questions, Emir said that there had been a change in the content of the 9th Judicial Package, which has not been brought before parliament yet.

Emir announced that the “agents of influence” article, which had caused public controversy, had been removed from the proposal and said the following: “There has been much media coverage of the 9th Judicial Package. We have received reports that the proposal was prepared by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The proposal contained some provisions which we could never accept, foremost among them the article on ‘agents of influence.’ This appeared to be an article with undetermined limits. It gave prosecutors room to put anyone on trial at any time. Such unforeseeable penal articles have no place under the rule of law. Penal articles need to have identified limits. We were concerned that they would place anyone they wanted on trial, as they did using the ‘law on disinformation.’ We were recently told that this article would not be included in the 9th Judicial Package and we were happy to hear it.”

Justice and Development Party (AKP) Parliamentary Group Deputy President Muhammet Emin Akbaşoğlu argued that the article on “agents of influence” had never been a part of the 9th Judicial Package. Akbaşoğlu said, “This proposal contains no provisions concerning the Law 6284.” Akbaşoğlu added that they would continue working on the 9th Judicial Package after the Eid holiday and that the proposal concerning the package would be submitted to the parliamentary speaker’s office after the holiday.

Given publicly available information, the article on “agents of influence” is expected to establish a “new type of espionage crime.”

Murat Ağırel announces receiving threats

Journalist Murat Ağırel has claimed that there are strangers outside his home at all times and he has been receiving threats. Sharing images he obtained himself, Ağırel said “They came as close as the car park. They went through the garbage we put out. They have identified my home with their camera.”

Speaking on the “Kayda Geçsin” program on Halk TV, Ağırel underlined that his residence was being recorded and said:

“I did not want to make this public. My coworkers already know. I notify the judiciary of the written insults and lynching attempts. The only safe haven for me is the judiciary. One day we were on air with my coworkers. My spouse called me. There was someone outside our home and was recording with a camera. Our neighbors saw this and told my spouse. The came as close as the car park. They went through the garbage we put out. They have identified my home with their camera. They go through the trash can outside my home at 1.30-2:00 a.m.”

Ağırel said that his neighbor has sent him messages and proceeded to share the images he had recorded and recounted how some masked people collected everything around his home and placed the items in their vehicles.

İsmail Arı faces investigation over his book about Menzil congregation

An investigation has been launched against BirGün reporter İsmail Arı over his book titled Menzil’in Kasası, in which Arı recounts the commercial relationships and public sector organizations of the Menzil congregation.

Kamil İnce, member of the Menzil congregation’s business organization Tüm Sanayici ve İşadamları Derneği (TÜMSİAD), which is discussed in one section of the book, has filed a criminal complaint against Arı. In the criminal complaint, İnce requested copies of the book to be pulled off the shelves and destroyed, and Arı to be sentenced.

The Bakırköy Chief Prosecutor’s Office has filed an investigation following the complaint. It was reported that Arı would be asked to give a statement as part of the investigation.

Investigation against BirGün editor Kayhan Ayhan

The Press Crimes Investigation Office of the Anadolu Chief Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation against BirGün editor Kayhan Ayhan.

Ayhan was called in to provide a statement as part of the investigation and wrote the following on his social media account: “Another investigation concerning me has been filed. I got a notice at home calling me to provide a statement to the Press Crimes Investigation Office of the İstanbul Anadolu Chief Prosecutor’s Office. Let us see what I’m being accused of this time. We will find out when I go to give a statement.”

Action for damages against Timur Soykan over his book about New Zealander drugs baron

Journalist Timur Soykan has announced that New Zealander Duax Ngakuru, who is named in his book Baron İstilası, had filed an action for damages against him over the book.

Recounting events in his article published in BirGün, Soykan wrote the following: “New Zealander drugs baron Duax Ngakuru has filed an action for damages worth TL 350,000 against me and Kırmızı Kedi Publishers over my book Baron İstilası. The petition, which calls for the book to be pulled off the shelves, it is argued that Ngakuru’s dignity and honor had been harmed.

“Ngakuru is currently in prison and his lawyer has added some pages from the book to the petition. The petition claims that I violated the secrecy of the investigation and calls for me to be tried for ‘abuse of duty’ and for my news sources to be identified. The prosecutor has called for me to provide a statement not as a suspect but as an informer.”

Soykan said that while the plaintiff had requested the book to be pulled off the shelves, the court had rejected the request and filed the action.

Decision not to prosecute over Esra Solin Dal’s criminal complaint for “strip searching”

The prosecutor’s office has decided not to investigate over the criminal complaint filed by Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Esra Solin Dal, who stated that she had been subjected to strip searching at the Bakırköy Closed Women’s Prison.

MA reporters Esra Solin Dal and Mehmet Aslan, and journalist Erdoğan Alayumat, who were detained during home raids on 23 April 2024 as part of an İstanbul-based investigation and were later imprisoned pending trial on charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” were released on 21 May 2024.

Journalist Dal, who was held in Bakırköy Closed Women’s Prison for nearly a month stated that she had been subjected to strip searching twice during her remand in the prison. Dal’s lawyer Ayşe Özdemir then filed a criminal complaint with the Bakırköy Chief Prosecutor’s Office on 14 May.

In a statement it provided as part of the ensuing investigation, the Bakırköy Closed Women’s Prison Directorate claimed that no strip searching had taken place and that the searches were carried out “according to the law.”

The Bakırköy Chief Prosecutor’s Office, which examined the criminal complaint and the statement by the prison directorate concluded that there were no grounds to prosecute, arguing that there was no crime or elements of crime to be investigated.

Prosecution requests sentencing in trial of 6 journalists

The third hearing in the trial of journalists Serpil Ünal, Yadigar Aygün, Pınar Gayıp, Eylem Nazlıer, Zeynep Kuray and Esra Soybir on the charge of “violating the Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations” was held at the Anadolu 22nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 13 June 2024. The journalists had been assaulted and detained in Kadıköy, İstanbul on 29 April 2023 as they were protesting detentions of journalists in operations.

While the journalists did not attend the hearing, their lawyers were present.

The prosecutor presented their final opinion on the case, stating that the journalists had not dispersed despite warnings and requested sentencing for the impugned crime.

The court adjourned the trial until 31 October 2024 for the defense lawyers to set up a statement against the prosecutor’s opinion.

Sentencing sought for DFG Co-Chair Dicle Müftüoğlu

The fourth hearing in the trial of Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) Co-chair and Mezopotamya Agency (MA) editor Dicle Müftüoğlu on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “establishing and managing a terrorist organization” was held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court on 13 June 2024.

Müftüoğlu and her lawyer Resul Temur were present at the hearing.

Müftüoğlu said she repeated her previous defense statements. The prosecutor delivered their final opinion on the case and requested sentencing for Müftüoğlu on charge of “membership in a terrorist organization.”

Müftüoğlu requested time to prepare a defense against the opinion. Lawyer Temur said that the opinion of the prosecutor should discuss the evidence brought before the court and be prepared accordingly.

The court ruled to keep in place the ban on Müftüoğlu travelling abroad and adjourned the trial until 24 October 2024.

Action for damages by President Erdoğan’s former lawyer against Furkan Karabay adjourned

The fourth hearing in the action for non-pecuniary damages worth TL 100,000 filed by President Erdoğan’s former lawyer Mustafa Doğan İnal against journalist Furkan Karabay was held at the İstanbul 33rd Civil Court of First Instance on 13 June 2024. The action was filed over the news item titled “Yargıda 'Antalya' operasyonu: Rüşvetle anılıp yeniden başsavcı vekili yapılan isim ve Erdoğan’ın avukatları yine sahnede” (‘Antalya’ operation in the judiciary: Person reappointed deputy chief prosecutor after bribery allegations and Erdoğan’s lawyers take centerstage once more.)

Lawyers for the parties were present at the hearing, which P24 monitored. Karabay did not attend the hearing.

Plaintiff Mustafa Doğan İnal’s lawyer requested the action to be accepted. Karabay’s lawyer Özge Naz Akkaya requested the court to await the outcome of her client’s case with the İstanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.

The court ruled to await the finalization of the verdict for the case with the İstanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance and adjourned the action until 7 January 2025.

Prosecution requests acquittal of İzel Sezer and Batuhan Batan

The fifth hearing in the trial of İleri Haber Editor-in-Chief İzel Sezer and Managing Editor Batuhan Batan on charges of “insult” and “defamation” was held at the İstanbul 25th Criminal Court of First Instance on 13 June 2024. The case against the journalists was filed upon a criminal complaint by President Erdoğan’s former lawyer Mustafa Doğan İnal.

Lawyers for the parties were present at the hearing, which P24 monitored. Sezer and Batan did not attend the hearing.

The prosecutor delivered their final opinion on the case and requested the acquittal of İzel Sezer and Batuhan Batan of both charges. İnal’s lawyer stated they did not agree with the prosecutor’s opinion and requested time to prepare a statement against the opinion.

Sezer and Batan’s lawyer Özgür Urfa said, “My clients are on trial for reporting the news. My clients had no criminal intent, and we request their acquittal.”

The court accepted co-plaintiff İnal’s lawyer’s request for time and adjourned the trial until 17 December 2024.

Action for damages against Hazal Ocak adjourned

The 10th hearing in the action for damages worth TL 200,000 by former Minister of the Treasury and Finance Berat Albayrak against former Cumhuriyet newspaper reporter Hazal Ocak was held at the İstanbul 33rd Civil Court of First Instance on 13 June 2024.

While Ocak was not present at the hearing, her lawyer attended through the e-hearing system.

The court ruled to await the finalization of the acquittal verdict issued by the İstanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance in January over the same news item and adjourned the action until 7 January 2025.

13 defendants, including journalist Haydar Ergül, acquitted in the “KCK Academy” case

The 23rd hearing in the trial of 16 defendants, including journalist Haydar Ergül, in the “KCK Academy” case and on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization" was held at the İstanbul 22nd High Criminal Court on 13 June 2024.

Haydar Ergül, Münevver İlingi and defense lawyers were present at the hearing, which P24 monitored.

The court ruled to separate the case files for Şeyma Kantarcı and Aysel Diler, as they are defendants in other court cases. The court sentenced defendant Münevver İlingi to 6 years and 3 months of imprisonment for the crime of “membership in a terrorist organization” and acquitted 13 other defendants.

Click here to read a detailed report.

Prosecutor requests dismissal of case against Ogün Samast and instigators due to statute of limitations in the Dink murder case

The ninth hearing in the re-trial of 12 defendants of the Hrant Dink murder case, including five police officers, on charges of “attempting to destroy the Constitutional order,” “membership in a terrorist organization” and “committing crimes on behalf of an illegal organization” was held at the İstanbul 14th High Criminal Court on 29 May 2024.

P24 monitored the hearing. Defendants Ali Fuat Yılmazer, Ramazan Akyürek, Erhan Tuncel, Yasin Hayal, Tuncay Uzundal, Zeynel Abidin Yavuz attended the hearing via the judicial videoconferencing system from the prisons where they are held while defendants Ersin Yolçu, Ogün Samast and Adem Sağlam, who are free pending trial, attended from their provinces of residence via the judicial videoconferencing system. Lawyers for the Dink family and defendants were present in the courtroom.

Ali Fuat Akdağ, who claimed in a statement that defendant Adem Sağlam had attended FETÖ meetings, was heard as witness. Witness Akdağ said, “It has been almost 10 years since I gave that statement, I do not remember many things any longer. I do not think I would be able to recognize Adem Sağlam today. My statement at the time is true.”

The prosecutor, who delivered their final opinion on the case, requested the dismissal of the charge of “committing crimes on behalf of an illegal organization” against instigators Ahmet İskender, Erhan Tuncel, Yasin Hayal, Tuncay Uzundal, Zeynel Abidin Yavuz and Ersin Yolçu and hitman Ogün Samast due to the statute of limitations.

The prosecutor requested the acquittal of then Trabzon Counter-Terrorism Branch official Adem Sağlam of “attempting to destroy the Constitutional order,” “premeditated murder through negligent behavior” and “premeditated murder,” and sentencing for the crime of “membership in a terrorist organization.” The prosecutor further requested sentencing for then security directors Ali Fuat Yılmazer and Ramazan Akyürek for the crime of “attempting to destroy the Constitutional order.”

Defendants and their lawyers requested time to prepare a statement against the prosecutor’s opinion. The court accepted the request and adjourned the trial until 16 October 2024.

Secret witness included in proceedings in case against MA editor Abdurrahman Gök

The third hearing in the trial of Mezopotamya Agency (MA) editor Abdurrahman Gök on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorism propaganda” was held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court on 11 June 2024.

Gök and his lawyer Resul Temur were present at the hearing.

During the hearing, it was revealed that statements by a secret witness codenamed "CV23TY45UP78," who had testified against 16 journalists in a Diyarbakır-based investigation” had been added to the proceedings. While the secret witness did not mention Gök in statements about the 16 journalists, the report in which the secret witness told the Tokat 2nd High Criminal Court on 28 November 2023 that Gök had told him he was “running press and publication activities on behalf of the organization” was included in the case file.

Speaking first at the hearing, lawyer Resul Temur said that Gök had travelled to many countries and worked as a journalist in zones of conflict. Lawyer Temur also requested the court to hear secret witness codenamed "CV23TY45UP78," who had testified against the 16 journalists who were detained on 8 June 2022 and released on 11 July 2023 in court.

Speaking afterwards, Gök said he practiced journalism in zones of conflict and that the ban on travelling abroad prevented him from practicing his profession. Gök requested the lifting of the travelling abroad ban judicial measure, which prevents him from fulfilling professional activities.

The court accepted the request for the secret witness to be heard in court, ruled to keep in place the ban on travelling abroad and adjourned the trial until 22 October 2024.

Journalist Safiye Alağaş’s trial adjourned until October

The fourth hearing in the trial of journalist Safiye Alağaş on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” over news items and social media posts published while she was news manager at JinNews was held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court on 11 June 2024.

The court ruled to issue a writ to the Diyarbakır Directorate of Security to inquire whether secret witness no. 1 could be heard and adjourned the trial until 22 October 2024.

Danish journalist Mads Anneberg's trial adjourned until November

The 10th hearing in the trial of Danish journalist Mads Anneberg, who was detained while following the movement of refugees along the Turkey-Greece border on 3 March 202, on the charge of “entering military forbidden zones” was held at the Edirne 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 11 June 2024.

No parties attended the hearing.

The court ruled to await the execution of the order for the detention of Anneberg. The trial was adjourned until 7 November 2024.

At least 29 journalists and media workers in prison

As of 14 June 2024, there are at least 29 journalists and media workers in prison in Turkey, either in pre-trial detention or serving a sentence.

The full list can be accessed here.