Kara Asks for Support in Filming Trial

Kara, former owner of the Datca Haber newspaper, who filmed Datcas local official as he was swimming, will stand trial on May 11. He who has served in prison twice before and who faces 15 days in prison, called on his colleagues to attend the hearing.

Erol Önderoğlu

Sinan Kara, the former owner of the "Datca Haber" (Datca News) newspaper will stand trial on May 11 for filming Datca's local administrator as he was swimming during working hours.

Journalist Kara called on his journalist friends to attend the hearing at the Datca court at 09:55 a.m.

Kara is charged for "disturbing a person and filming parts of his/her body that are obscene or ugly," based on article 547 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). "This trial, which is the most critical in my opinion, will probably be decided next week," said Kara. He is faced with 15 days in prison or a fine.

Kara congratulated the Press Freedom day of all journalists. "The allegation that I do not have the capacity to work as a journalist is a product of the imagination," said Kara. "I have not violated articles 5 and 13 of the Press Law as they claim."

Journalist Kara has served in prison twice "for not sending to copies of the newspaper to the local administrator," and "for threatening the security guards of Mert Ciller."

Kara applied to the European Court of Human Rights first claiming he "did not stand a fair trial" and second, because of the denouncement by the Press Council. He has not received any response yet. (EO/YS/EA/YE)

Erol Önderoğlu

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İstanbul Üniversitesi Fransız Filolojisi Bölümü'nden mezun. 1996'da muhabiri olduğu uluslararası Sınır Tanımayan Gazeteciler (RSF) örgütünün Türkiye temsilcisi olarak çalışıyor. 1999'dan beri İPS İletişim Vakfı'nın projesi olan bianet sitesinde, Hukuki Destek Masası koordinatörü, ifade özgürlüğü editörü ve yayın yönetmeni olarak çalıştı. 4.800'den fazla imzalı haber ve makalesi bulunuyor. Bizim Gazete ve Güncel Hukuk dergisi için haber ve makaleler yazdı. Halen bianet'te Medya Gözlem Raporları'nı hazırlıyor.