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.

Journalist Oktay Candemir to stand trial on charge of "insult"

Journalist Oktay Candemir to stand trial on charge of

Candemir to stand trial over his social media post about AKP MP Osman Gökçek

NİMET ÖLMEZ, ANKARA

A new one has been added to a large number of investigations and ongoing lawsuits against journalist Oktay Candemir. Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation against Candemir over his post on his X account dated 5 April 2022. Candemir had written “Osman Gökçek amasız fakatsız hırsızdır,” (Osman Gökçek is a thief without any buts) about former Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Melih Gökçek's son and AKP MP Osman Gökçek.

Candemir to stand trial for “insult”

Within the scope of the investigation launched two years after the post, the Ankara Public Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment against Candemir. Candemir will be tried at the Ankara Criminal Court of First Instance on the charge of “insult through an audio, written or visual message.” 

The indictment included the following statements: “In the defense of the suspect Oktay Candemir, he stated that the Twitter account @oktaycandemir belongs to him, that he does not know the plaintiff personally, that he is a journalist and is trying to do his profession, that he did not insult the plaintiff and that he does not accept the accusation against him. In the examination of the entire file scope and the screenshot presented by the plaintiff's lawyer, it has been understood that he committed the offense of insult through a written or visual message by writing 'Osman Gökçek is a thief without busts' addressed to the plaintiff in a way to attack the honor, dignity and reputation of the plaintiff.”

Journalist Candemir stated that he did not accept the reconciliation offer made by Gökçek's lawyers, who called him as part of the lawsuit.

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