Paylan: What is the Legal Base of Shutting Down Özgür Gündem?

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Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) İstanbul MP Garo Paylan has remarked that shutting down of Özgür Gündem daily fails to comply with the Constitution’s clause on which the shutting down decision is based.

Paylan explained the legal situation as follows:

“Periodicals published in Turkey can be temporarily closed in the case that they are convicted of being publications that go against the indivisible integrity of the state with its country and nation, the republic’s basic principles, national security and public morality.

“Again as stated in the justification, there is an investigation launched into the daily but there is no decision of conviction yet.

“Therefore, the decision of closing Özgür Gündem daily doesn’t include the condition of ‘being convicted’ as stipulated in the Constitution”.

Paylan asked in his parliamentary motion whether it is legal to shut down the daily in this case, and what the legal basis is behind this decision if not this clause. (AS/TK)