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.

Prosecutor demands conviction for journalist Ayça Söylemez at first hearing

Prosecutor demands conviction for journalist Ayça Söylemez at first hearing

Submitting their final opinion at the first hearing, the prosecutor requests the court to sentence Söylemez for "marking a public official assigned with the fight against terrorism as a target”

CANSU PİŞKİN, İSTANBUL

Journalist Ayça Söylemez appeared before the Istanbul 29th High Criminal Court on 22 November 2023 for the first hearing of her trial on the charge of “marking a public official assigned with the fight against terrorism as a target.” The accusation stems from Söylemez's article titled “Yetenekli Hakim Bey” (The talented judge), which was published in the 18 February 2020 edition of BirGün newspaper.

P24 monitored the hearing, where Söylemez and her lawyer Güçlü Sevimli were present.

The indictment claims that Söylemez should be sentenced on the grounds that she had “referred to [former criminal court presiding judge, currently Deputy Minister of Justice] Akın Gürlek by name; disclosed cases which he had presided over as part of his duties; and the content of the article subject to investigation constituting the act of providing and presenting targets to armed terrorist organizations as defined in Article 6 of the Law no. 3713” -- the Anti-Terror Law (TMK).

“There was no disclosure of non-public information”

Addressing the court for her defense statement, Söylemez said: “The people named in the article are persons well known to the public and are connected with judge Akın Gürlek. The indictment mentions ‘disclosing information’ but the information consists entirely of statements in a court case that was open to the attendance of the public.”

Rejecting the accusation, Söylemez said, “The article subject to the charge is within the scope of the freedom of expression and there was no disclosure of non-public information.”

Söylemez’s lawyer Güçlü Sevimli said: “The case file also contains a magazine article concerning the judge who is the plaintiff. However, this article was not written by my client. We request that these documents not be taken into account when the court renders its judgment.”

Requesting his client's acquittal, Sevimli added: “Akın Gürlek has filed complaints against other journalists before. In almost all cases launched due to these complaints, the journalists were acquitted.”

The prosecutor then presented their final opinion on the case and requested sentencing for Söylemez for “marking a public official assigned with the fight against terrorism as a target.”

Söylemez and her lawyer requested additional time to prepare their statement in response to the prosecutor's final opinion. Granting Söylemez and her lawyer additional time, the court adjourned the trial until 19 March 2024.

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