Aslan and two alleged news sources were on trial for “violating the right to privacy”

ARDIL BATMAZ, DIYARBAKIR

The second hearing in the trial of journalist Şehriban Aslan and two alleged news sources who are charged with “violating the confidentiality of private life” through a news report published in JinNews on the irregular use of vehicles at Diyarbakır Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services was held at the Diyarbakır 16th Criminal Court of First Instance on 17 February 2025.

Şehriban Aslan did not attend the hearing while her lawyer Resul Temur, the other two defendants, their lawyers and the plaintiff’s lawyer were present.

The plaintiff’s lawyer submitted the preliminary investigation report of the governorate to the file and stated that according to this report, the field of duty of the deputy directors was wide, it was stated that they could use the vehicles under different conditions and the governorate decided not to issue an investigation permit. The lawyer argued that the reputations of the people who were the subject of the news were damaged and that they were targeted by the public, and accused JinNews, where the news was published, of being “PKK sympathizers” and “in cooperation with terrorism.”

Presenting their final opinion on the case, the prosecutor demanded the acquittal of all defendants. The court acquitted all defendants.

Bakcground of the case

The news article published in JinNews with the title "Aile ve Sosyal Hizmetler İl Müdürlüğü tasarruf tedbirlerinden muaf!” (Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services is exempt from austerity measures!) included allegations that Burhanettin İncedursun and Ayşe Nur Baysal, deputy directors of Diyarbakır Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services, used public vehicles for their personal business and that staff who objected to this were sent to other duties. The deputy directors named in the news article filed a criminal complaint against Şehriban Aslan, who signed the news article, and those who shared the images. The Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office then filed an indictment on the charge of “violating the right to privacy.”