Two Journalists on Trial for "Cosmic Room" Coverage

The Istanbul Public Prosecution opened a court case against two journalists in the context of the search of the so-called "cosmic room", which had been conducted based on an alleged assassination plot directed at Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç. The cosmic room is part of the Mobilization Regional Presidency which is connected to the Special Forces Command.

Hürriyet newspaper journalist Nurettin Kurt and editorial manager Hasan Kılıç stand trial because of taking pictures of Colonel E.Y.B. who gave his statement to the Ankara Public Prosecutor in the scope of the investigation.

Which terror organization is involved?

Both journalists face imprisonment of between one and three years under article 6 of the Anti-Terror Law (TMY) on "identifying officials on anti-terrorist duties as targets of terror organizations".

The investigation was initiated after the arrest of two military officers on duty in the Mobilization Regional Presidency of the Special Forces Command. Therupon, prosecutor Şemsettin Özcan conducted a search of the cosmic room on 26 December 2009.

Since the investigation into the assassination plot is still going on, the prosecutor has not yet clarified for which terror organization the colonel was supposedly identified as a target by Kurt and Kılıç.

Kurt: These pictures were published everywhere

Journalist Kurt commented the trial: "All over the world journalism means displaying this sort of investigation. I am astonished".

Investigation into Habertürk

Besided Kurt and Kılıç, the indictment also mentions that an investigation has been launched into Habertürk newspaper journalist Cemal Doğan and editorial manager İzzet Doğan. (EÖ/VK)