Journalist Sultan Çoban Sentenced to Prison Over Her Facebook Post

* Photo: MLSA

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Charged with "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" over her Facebook post, journalist Sultan Çoban had her first hearing at the Konya 8th Heavy Penal Court today (February 27).

Announcing its ruling, the court has ruled that the journalist shall be sentenced to 1 year, 3 months in prison on the offense charged.

While the hearing was monitored by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Representative to Turkey Erol Önderoğlu, Çoban was represented at court by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA).

'It is within freedom of expression in Denmark'

In her statement of defense, journalist Sultan Çoban said, "I grew up in Denmark. I am working for the media of Denmark. Several issues associated with terror in Turkey are considered to fall within freedom of expression in Denmark. The works I do is a proof of my objectivity."

Taking the floor after Çoban, lawyer Veysel Ok from the MLSA referred to Constitutional Court verdicts and emphasized that no identification can be made for social media posts without a court order. Indicating that the report of the police was against both the law and the principle of the right to privacy, Ok requested the ommital of the report from the case file.

Announcing his opinion as to the accusations in the first hearing, the prosecutor argued that the police report was prepared with an open-source search and should be deemed lawful. He also demanded that journalist Sultan Çoban be penalized for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization."

In her statement as to the accusations, Sultan Çoban said, "My posts fall within the scope of freedom of expression, they were intended as news-sharing and archiving. I did not commit the crime of terror propaganda." Her attorney Ok indicated that the posts in question were taken from international news agencies, the pictures were also shared by the media in Turkey and they were newsworthy. Ok requested her client's acquittal.

Announcing its ruling, the court has sentenced journalist Sultan Çoban to 1 year, 3 months in prison on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" over her Facebook post. While the prison sentence has been deferred, Veysel Ok has said that they will appeal against the verdict.

Önderoğlu has criticized the verdict

Sharing a message on Twitter after the verdict, RSF Representative to Turkey Erol Önderoğlu has indicated that Sultan Çoban has been given a prison sentence although the condition of "it is freedom of expression if there is not incitement to violence' has been added to the Anti-Terror Law introduced by the Judicial Reform Package. (HA/SD)