Lawsuit Against Journalist Temizkan Over a Social Media Post from 6 Years Ago

* Photo: Evrensel newspaper

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İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has issued an indictment against journalist Sabiha Temizkan over her tweet "Makhmour camp has been taken over by ISIS..." which she posted six years ago. Temizkan is charged with "propagandizing for a terrorist organization."

Temizkan was summoned to depose over her message from the year 2014 on February 13 and was charged with "inciting the public to enmity and hatred." Represented by the Law and Media Studies Association (MLSA), Temizkan rejected the offense charged.

36-page report on social media posts

Speaking to the MLSA about the lawsuit, Temizkan has said, "They are trying to make up a crime element out of a tweet. I am a journalist and used my right to inform the public. When I went to depose, they put a 36-page report on my Facebook and Twitter posts before me.

"I was asked almost no questions, I only answered the ones as to whether the posts belonged to me or not. I see that the indictment was prepared sloppily and without making any inquiries, from which I infer that an extra effort is made to find excuses to put dissident journalists on trial. Unfortunately, we cannot be surprised at such things in these conditions."

'We are asked why we do journalism'

Temizkan was also asked about her interview published on Yeni Yaşam newspaper, Temizkan has added and continued as follows:

"In my deposition at the Security, even a question that I asked the then hunger-striking MP Leyla Güven, who is also my mother, in an interview was brought as an accusation against me. I was also asked a question about her answer and I told them that I could not be held accountable for the answer given by my news source.

"I saw it quite clearly during my deposition at the Security that my journalism was questioned. This indictment is also asking me 'Why did you do journalism?' I see that this lawsuit is an attempt to intimidate journalists, but we will keep on doing journalism."

Charged with "propagandizing for a terrorist organization," journalist Sabiha Temizkan will have her first hearing at the İstanbul 35th Heavy Penal Court on June 25, 2020. (RT/SD)