'If I Don't Go to Jail, I'll Celebrate My Birthday'

Photo: AA

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"My duty as a journalist to ensure that people get true news. But every day, new cases are filed against me, my fellow reporters and our newspaper. I think these cases target not us but the truth," says Hazal Ocak, a reporter from daily Cumhuriyet.

In the past year, three lawsuits were filed and one investigation was opened against her. She often reports about right violations and corruption.

Cases were filed against her and Cumhuriyet to "intimidate" them, she says, adding that she is now busy with both the news and the lawsuits.

"Cumhuriyet paid a heavy price for the freedom of the press and expression. Its columnists were killed, employees were imprisoned. Today, Cumhuriyet is on the target as in the past, because the truth is wanted to be hidden. Every day, new cases are filed against me, my fellow reporters and our newspaper," Ocak remarks.

She tells bianet that "everything happened so fast in the past year." First, a claim for non-pecuniary damages was filed against her over a news report about a tender lodged by the Gaziantep Şahinbey District Municipality.

Then she and Cumhuriyet Foundation Chair Alev Coşkun were sued by businessperson Mehmet Cengiz over a report on the construction activities in İstanbul's Fethi Paşa Korusu park. Cengiz requested one million lira (~143 thousand US dollars) for non-pecuniary damages.

The third lawsuit came from Berat Albayrak, the Minister of Treasury and Finance. He filed a lawsuit for "insult" against the journalist over a report by Ocak that revealed Albayrak's purchase of land near the planned Canal İstanbul route.

For the last part, a terrorism investigation was opened against her after she reported that the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality demolished a gazebo and a fireplace that were illegally built by Fahrettin Altun, the Communication Director of the Presidency.

"The hearing of the lawsuit filed by Mehmet Cengiz is on June 17th. The first hearing of the insult case, which was filed after Berat Albayrak filed a criminal complaint. First, I'll attend the hearings. Then, if I'm not imprisoned, I'll celebrate my birthday on June 19." (HA/VK)