An Istanbul court sentenced writer Yavuz Ekinci to 1 year 6 months and 22 days in prison on the charge of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization.” The sentence was suspended

CANSU PİŞKİN, İSTANBUL

The third hearing of novelist and short story writer Yavuz Ekinci’s trial on the charge of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” over eight social media posts he shared in 2014 and 2015 was held on 31 March 2022 at the İstanbul 34th High Criminal Court.

P24 monitored the hearing, attended by Ekinci and his lawyers.

The prosecutor reiterated his final opinion on the case, delivered at the hearing held on 11 January 2022, and demanded that the court convict Ekinci on the charge of “spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization.”

“Freedom of expression is on trial”

During the hearing, Ekinci presented his final defense statement in response to the prosecutor’s final opinion, and denied the accusations. “A writer does not have opinions, he has a conscience. The writer is the spirit of the age in which he lives. And I am the spirit, conscience and memory of this age. It is not me who is being prosecuted in this courtroom, it is the freedom of thought and expression,” Ekinci said in his final statement.

“I am being prosecuted for sharing the photos shared by everybody else, without adding any comments,” the writer continued. “As per the judgments delivered by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Constitutional Court, I request that the posts in question be considered within the scope of freedom of expression and the press, and demand my acquittal.”

Following Ekinci, his lawyer Can Ekinci addressed the court, and requested for the writer to be acquitted. Stating that Ekinci did not act with criminal intent to make propaganda for a terrorist organization while sharing his social media posts, lawyer Ekinci said, “There are no posts that contain force, violence or threats either. This case should be considered within the scope of freedom of expression.”

Afterwards, Erkan Şenses, also Ekinci’s lawyer, addressed the court, stating that the writer did not commit the alleged crime. “A post that was not a crime at the time when the client shared it on social media is considered a crime eight years later. The courts are being influenced by the political atmosphere of today while adjudicating” said Şenses, adding, “The ECtHR judgments note that an acquittal can be granted unless there is incitement to hatred or violence. I request that you take these judgments into consideration.” Şenses requested the court to acquit Ekinci.

Announcing its verdict at the end of the hearing, the court ruled to sentence Ekinci to 1 year 6 months and 22 days in prison on the charge of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization.” The sentence was suspended.