Erdem Gül, Can Dündar Appeal to Constitutional Court

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Can Dündar, Chief Editor of Cumhuriyet daily and Erdem Gül, its Ankara Representative who had been arrested on account of their reports on trucks of National Intelligence Organization on November 26, 2015 by 7th Criminal Court of Peace İstanbul, have applied to Constitutional Court.

The petition submitted to the Constitutional Court stated that the freedom of expression of Dündar and Gül who had been arrested due to their journalism activities was violated and decisions of European Court of Human Rights were not abided by.

Dündar and Gül are being accused of “providing information concerning the security of the state”, “political and military espionage”, “disclosing confidential information” and “propagandizing for the terrorist organization”.

Attorneys of Dündar and Gül had objected to their client’s arrests on November 30, been consigned to the superior court by 7th Criminal Court of Peace and the superior court had overruled the objection to arrest on December 1.

What had happened?

Investigation concerning the report on trucks of National Intelligence Organization published with the headline “Here are the weapons which Erdoğan denied” on May 29, was launched over accusation of “providing information concerning the security of the state”, “political and military espionage”, “disclosing confidential information” and “propagandizing for the terrorist organization”.

Hadi Salihoğlu, the High Court Chief Prosecutor had announced the investigation with a press statement.

Also President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had made an individual complaint about Cumhuriyet daily and Dündar stating on his petition that “activities of a suspect who targets the interests of the state through publishing images and information contrary to facts can’t be interpreted as journalism” and demanded penalization for Dündar once with aggravated life imprisonment, once with life imprisonment and once with 42 years of imprisonment.

Erdoğan had remarked “I am of the opinion that the person who made this special report is going to pay a heavy price for this. I will not just leave him be”. (EKN/DG)