Taşpınar, an editor for Odatv news portal, was charged with “insult” for his book published in 2020

CANSU PİŞKİN, ISTANBUL

The final hearing of Odatv editor Caner Taşpınar’s trial on the charge of “insult” (TCK 125) for his 2020 book “Damat: Fethullahçıların AKP'li Kayınpederleri” (The groom: The AKP-member fathers-in-law of Fethullahists) was held at the Istanbul 11th Criminal Court of First Instance on 15 February 2022.

The case was launched upon complaints filed by Former Speaker of the Parliament İsmail Kahraman and AKP Deputy Ali İhsan Arslan.

In their final opinion submitted on 6 January 2022, the prosecutor demanded Taşpınar’s acquittal on the grounds that the legal elements of the alleged offense were not present.

P24 monitored this week’s hearing, attended by Taşpınar’s lawyer Deniz Ali İlkem Demir and İsmail Kahraman’s lawyer Ferhan Arslan. İhsan Arslan’s lawyer did not attend.

Reiterating their final opinion, the prosecutor demanded Taşpınar’s acquittal. Kahraman’s lawyer said they did not agree with the prosecutor’s final opinion and asked the court to sentence Taşpınar.

Issuing its verdict at the end of the hearing, the court acquitted Taşpınar on the grounds that the legal elements of the alleged offense were not present.