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A hearing has been held today (November 16) in the trial of Republican People's Party Deputy and former journalist Enis Berberoğlu combined with the case of Cumhuriyet daily's Ankara Representative Erdem Gül and its former Editor-in-Chief Can Dündar.

A press statement has been held in front of İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan ahead of the hearing before İstanbul 14th High Criminal Court.

Besides Berberoğlu and Gül also CHP Deputy Barış Yarkadaş, Chairperson of Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) Gökhan Durmuş as well as many Cumhuriyet daily readers attended the press statement.

Dündar on the other hand, did not appear before court as he was abroad.

Gül: The price for writing the truth

Talking at the press statement, Erdem Gül has said "this is a journalism trial", and added;

"This the price for writing the truth. This is not just about us, for a long time, journalists have been paying this price in this country. A great number of journalists have been in prison for some time now. Newspapers are being closed, operations are being carried out on newspapers. That's why this trial is the trial of defending journalism. Courts and prisons have turned into the workplace of journalists. They have to be taken out of the courts and prisons immediately. There is a structural oppression against freedom of press and expression".

Berberoğlu: I had the chance to respond to the accusations

Also talking in the press statement, Berberoğlu has said, "As a matter of fact, I found the opportunity to respond to the accusations. Usually, we used to be exposed to extrajudicial execution by the pro-Government media. Today in the courtroom, I obtained the opportunity to explain the panel of judges that the aspersions casted upon me were not true. I am really happy about that.

"I will them one by one, hat this a case of media, freedom of expression and the people's right to information.

"I am ready to pay any price, also politically, for the sake of making this accurate report, publishing and spreading it. I hope we can meet again in a couple of hours. If not, it's no problem at all. You do your jobs, and I will do mine"

Durmuş: Today journalism will stand trial again

To mark the journalists in prison, Chairperson of Journalists' Union of Turkey, Gökhan Durmuş has said;

"Journalism will stand trial here today. We, as TGS will fight till the end in order to make especially the journalists in prison be released and rejuvenating freedom of press in Turkey. Of the press is not free, the society will not be free, everyday, we wake up with a new case. If there is a free press, democracy becomes possible. We will follow every case, in which journalists are being tried, this one in particular".

Ergün: What makes a court a court is the defence

Berberoğlu's attorney Murat Ergün has stated "What makes a courthouse a courthouse is not the prosecution or the judgement but the defence" and added;

"We did not come here to plead but to commission those responsible and in charge against the accusations targeting us.

What had happened?

Prosecution was started as to the article published with the headline "Here are the weapons Erdoğan claim to not exist" on May 29 over "Procuring information as to state security", "Political and military espionage", "Declaring confidential information", "Propagandizing terror organization".

Chief Public Prosecutor Hadi Salihoğlu had declared the prosecution by press release.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had personally filed a criminal complaint and requested Dündar to be sentenced to one aggravated life imprisonment, one life imprisonment and 42 years in prison for "targeting state interests by using images contrary to facts".

Erdoğan on a live broadcast on public channel TRT had said, "I guess the person who made this special news will heavily pay for it".
Dündar and Gül had been imprisoned as of November 26.

Upon their objection against arrest being rejected, they had made an appeal to the Constitutional Court over "violation of freedom of press and speech and the right to security".

Upon reporter of the Constitutional Court delivering the opinion that "freedom of press and expression, right to personal security have been violated, their imprisonment is unlawful" as to Gül and Dündar's application, Gül and Dündar's file had been referred to the Constitutional Court General Assembly.

CLICK - AYM REPORT: ARREST OF GÜL, DÜNDAR UNLAWFUL

Constitutional Court General Assembly has ruled journalists Can Dündar and Erdem Gül imprisoned as of November 26 over MİT truck report subjected to violation of right.

CLICK - CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RULES JOURNALIST CAN DÜNDAR, ERDEM GÜL EXPOSED TO VIOLATION OF RIGHT
On February 26, 2016, 14th Heavy Penal Court has ruled release of Can Dündar and Erdem Gül following the "violation of rights" verdict by the Constitutional Court.

CLICK - COURT RULES RELEASE OF CAN DÜNDAR, ERDEM GÜL

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has commentated on the Constitutional Court's ruling to release the journalists Gül and Dündar as "I don't obey the court decision. I don't respect it either".

CLICK - ERDOGAN ON RELEASE OF GÜL AND DÜNDAR: I DON'T OBEY OR RESPECT THE COURT RULING

On March 25, the Court has decided to hold the hearings without audience further on.

On May 3, a prison sentence of 25 years was demanded for Can Dündar and up to 10 years in prison for Erdem Gül.

The case was over on May 16. The journalists were sentenced to 10 years and 10 days in prison for "disclosing confidential information of the state". Acquitted of coup accusations, Gül and Dündar are still on trial on charges of "knowingly and willingly helping an armed organization as a non-member". (EA/DG)