Journalist Stands Trial For Writing About ”Berkin”, "Bilal"
Istanbul 2nd Assize Court opened the case of journalist Soner Yalçın for charges related to insulting Bilal Erdoğan, the son of Turkey’s president, in his latest book called “Lost File - Erdoğan’s Stolen File”.
Facing prison sentence from 4 months to 2 years and 8 months for insulting through the media, Odatv news website owner Soner Yalçın defended himself by saying that he didn’t write about Bilal Erdoğan as Bilal was a name used by 106,130 people in Turkey.
“It wasn’t said that ‘Bilal’ in the book was Tayyip Erdoğan’s son. The fact that Necmettin Bilal Erdoğan took it personally is not the author’s problem but his,” he said.
Two symbols from Turkey: Berkin ve Bilal
In his book, Yalçın wrote the following: “Today in Turkey... Two symbols: Berkin... Bilal... Indeed us / all of us… It shows two Turkeys: Berkin, the symbol of bread to buy home. Bilal, the symbol of money rushed away from home...”. Such statement was cited in the case indictment.
Yalçın criticized that the case prosecutor was reading intentions in the book.
“The book talks about my client”
“The book talks about my client in a way that it leaves no hesitation,” said Bilal Erdoğan’s advocate. He said that they will press charges and would like to see Yalçın punished. The court allowed the defense attorney to make a statement. The trial will continue on May 7. (EÖ/BM)
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