Expression Interrupted

Journalists and academics bear the brunt of the massive crackdown on freedom of expression in Turkey. Scores of them are currently subject to criminal investigations or behind bars. This website is dedicated to tracking the legal process against them.

İsminaz Temel and Havva Cuştan’s trial adjourned 

İsminaz Temel and Havva Cuştan’s trial adjourned 

Refusing to lift the international travel ban imposed on the defendants, the presiding judge said judges who previously lifted travel bans in “terrorism” cases faced investigations

 

The trial of Etkin news agency (ETHA) editor İsminaz Temel and reporter Havva Cuştan and 21 others on terrorism-related charges resumed on 23 September 2020 at the 27th High Criminal Court of Istanbul.

 

P24 monitored the hearing, which was the 10th in the trial. Four of the undetained defendants and the defendants’ lawyers were in attendance in the courtroom. Temel and Cuştan did not attend the hearing.

 

İsminaz Temel’s lawyer Ömer Çakırgöz submitted to the court a medical report showing Temel’s mother’s medical condition and asked the court to lift the travel ban imposed on his client so that she can visit her mother, who lives abroad. The court rejected the request. Temel’s lawyer objected, citing the medical report he submitted to the court. Other lawyers representing Temel’s co-defendants also asked the court to lift similar restrictions imposed on their clients.

 

The court rejected all requests to lift the international travel ban imposed on the defendants. Elaborating on their decision, the presiding judge said other judges in criminal courts overseeing “terrorism” trials faced investigations after they ruled to lift travel restrictions.

 

“Therefore, we are unable to lift travel restrictions before we announce our judgment in the trial. In the case against Can Dündar, the court lifted his travel ban and Dündar left the country. In order to prevent a similar situation, at this stage we reject such requests,” the judge said, adding that they could only lift international travel restrictions “when it becomes certain that a judgment of acquittal will be rendered.”

 

Ruling for the continuation of judicial control measures imposed on the defendants, the court adjourned the trial until 18 February 2021.

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