Same Case Two Courts Two Different Rulings

Two courts gave opposite rulings in two similar cases where two newspapers reported the same declaration by main opposition People's Republican Party (CHP) parliamentary group vice chair Haluk Koç about PM Erdoğan.

Cumhuriyet daily chief editor İbrahim Yıldız has been condemned to 23 months imprisonment by an Istanbul court, following PM Erdogan's complaint that Koç's speech included insult to his personality.

On another account, an Ankara court acquitted Radikal daily administrators on the same allegations.

Koç had said that PM Erdoğan "is twisting the facts" -in a less formal way-, criticizing the PM for not declaring his assets during a press conference, which was quoted by both newspapers.

The prosecution rejected PM Erdoğan's complaint about Haluk Koç.

But Şişli 2nd Court of First Instance condemned Cumhuriyet daily for quoting his words following the public prosecutor's demand.(EÖ/EÜ)