Journalist Necla Demir acquitted of 'insulting the president'

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The former grant holder of Gazete Karınca news site, Necla Demir, has been acquitted of "insulting the president."

In today's (October 28) hearing at the Bakırköy 8th Penal Court of First Instance, the prosecutor requested her acquittal, stating that the elements of the charged offense did not occur.

An investigation for "inciting people to hatred and animosity" was opened against Demir after an anonymous tip to the Presidency Communications Center (CİMER) over news reports published on Gazete Karınca in 2016.

A lawsuit was later filed because of the two articles titled, "From the Wikileaks documents: Erdoğan is dragging the country into a civil conflict" and "Red Hack members spoke: Why did they hack Albayrak? [Berat, the son-in-law of the president and the energy minister at the time]."

Demir was acquitted in another case for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" last year. (HA/VK)