Tutel, an editor for BirGün daily, is charged with “insulting a public official” for his reports about the Turkish Wushu Federation (TWF) and its executives

CANSU PİŞKİN, ISTANBUL

The second hearing of BirGün newspaper sports editor Eren Tutel’s trial on the charge of “insulting a public official” (TCK 125) was held at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 1 February 2022.

Tutel is on trial for his reports on corruption allegations concerning the Turkish Wushu Federation (TWF) and its executives.

Tutel and his lawyer Tolgay Güvercin and a lawyer representing the complainants Elif Akyüz, a TWF athlete, and Abdurrahman Akyüz, the founder and vice president of TWF, were in attendance. P24 was in the courthouse to monitor the hearing but citing the Covid-19 pandemic, the judge did not allow spectators in the courtroom.

Addressing the court for his defense statement, Tutel said his reports were based on documents and statements by TWF athletes. Tutel explained that despite Elif Akyüz’s claim that she has won the world championship seven times, she has only one win according to the International Wushu Federation’s website. Tutel added that his reports referred to previous dispatches by Doğan News Agency (DHA), which reported that Abdurrahman Akyüz had allegedly bribed the referees at the 2011 world championship.

Tutel's lawyer addressed the court next. Stating that his client’s articles were based on reports and documents, the lawyer said Tutel did not accuse the complainants of anything. Güvercin added: “A journalist has no obligation to investigate whether a lawsuit has been filed about a news content and the outcome of the lawsuit.” The lawyer requested additional time to submit a written statement.

The lawyer representing the plaintiffs claimed that Tutel’s reports were based on a “personal grudge the journalist holds” against her clients and asked the court to sentence the journalist.

Granting Tutel’s lawyer a continuance for their written statement, the court adjourned the case until 24 May 2022.