Defence of Taraf Newspaper Staff in 38 Trials

Many employees of the nation-wide Taraf newspaper gave their statement in not less than 38 trials at the Kadıköy (Istanbul) Courthouse on 28 January. Among the defendants are the General Publications Director of the daily, Ahmet Altan, and his deputy Yasemin Çongar.

Altan gave his statement in the scope of two cases pending against him. The journalist is indicted over allegations of "insulting İlker Başbuğ" (former Chief of General Staff) on the grounds of an article entitled "The lie of the General Staff". He is furthermore charged with "inciting the public to hatred and hostility" based on his articles "Mehmet Nuri" and "Dark Friday".

At the hearing related to the case on the article "The lie of the General Staff", Altan reminded the fact that the prosecutor obtained the opinion of an expert. He asked, "The prosecutor cannot comprehend whether the writing contains an insult or not; he is asking an expert. How can a trial based on insult be opened if not even the prosecutor understood the writing?"

"I am trying to save children but the judiciary prosecutes me"

Regarding the trial on the writing "Mehmet Nuri", Altan stated, "This trial was opened according to an order of the General Staff. The prosecutor adopted the sentences from the writing sent to him by the General Staff and opened a trial against me".

"The child mentioned in this writing was killed by a military bullet shot from behind. Another child called Ceylan was torn into pieces by a rocket shot by the military. It is the primary duty of the people living in this country and of the people holding a pen in their hand to save these children", Altan claimed.

"These children were between 12 and 14 years old when they were shot. Why should talking about the death of these children be incitement to hatred and hostility? I am trying to save children but if the Turkish judiciary is prosecuting me for that, then there is something wrong here".

Çongar: Indictment does not explain where the insult occurred

Journalist Çongar presented her defence for two different cases. She is alleged of "insulting İlker Başbuğ" in her article entitled "Authenticity". Moreover, she stands accused of "insult and the attempt to influence a fair trial" on the grounds of the article "Kuban and Üskül". She stated, "I did not understand where in the article the allegation of insult put forward by the prosecutor stem from. In fact, this is not mentioned in the indictment either".

Taraf writer Neşe Düzel gave her statement in a case related to two interviews. She is charged with "insulting the memory of Atatürk" (founder of the Turkish Republic) and "insult via the media". Reporter Bahar Kılıçgedik is indicted over charges of "violation of privacy" based on several of her articles. She is facing three separate trials and presented her defence speeches accordingly. Writer Markar Esayan, reporter Bahar Kılıçgedik and former Taraf employee Nevzat Çiçek were acquitted.

TİHV Chair Fincancı also persecuted

Adnan Demir, editorial manager of the www.taraf.com website, and Prof. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, Chair of the Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TİHV), stand trial for publishing an interview on inadequacies of the Forensic Medicine Institute and the institution's susceptibility to external influences. Both defendants are facing prison sentences.

Demir and Fincancı are tried under Artilce 125 of the Turkish Criminal Law (TCK) (Insult) at the Kadıköy 4th Criminal Court of First Instance. At the 25 January hearing, the case was postponed to 14 April.

Also on 14 April, Fincancı has to attend a trial filed against her at the Kadıköy 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. This trial is again related to her opinion voiced on the Forensic Medicine Institute. (EÇ/EÖ/VK)