Fine for Student Threatening Publisher

The Sultanahmet 8th Penal Court decided on the punishment for high school student Mert Sahin, aged 20, on 31 March.

Death threat by email 

Following the murder of journalist Hrant Dink on 19 January 2007, publisher Necati Abay had written an statement, entitled “Another journalist has been murdered, Hrant Dink was killed by the ‘good guys’”. Abay is the spokesperson of the Platform for Solidarity with Imprisoned Journalists (TGDP).

Sahin then sent him a death threat by email. The prosecution had initially demanded imprisonment from 2 to 5 years, under Articles 106/2 and 53 of the Turkish Penal Code, for “threatening anonymously or with special signs.”

However, the prosecutor changes his mind at the last hearing because the defendant sent the email in his own name, and demanded a six-month prison sentence.

Not enough of a deterrent 

The court first agreed to this sentence, which was reduced to five months for extenuating circumstances. Finally, the sentence was converted into a fine of 3,000 YTL (around 1,500 Euros).

While publisher Abay welcomed the fact that the person threatening him was punished, he added that “death threats have become cheap.” His lawyer, Gülizar Tuncer, has appealed against the sentence. (EÖ/GG)