Sinan Aygül becomes first journalist indicted under 'disinformation law'

The Bitlis-based journalist said he wouldn't defend himself at the court "not to legitimize the censorship law."

İstanbul

Sinan Aygül becomes first journalist indicted under 'disinformation law'

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Prosecutors in Bitlis have indicted journalist Sinan Aygül for "publicly disseminating misleading information" because of a tweet he posted in December.

Aygül, who heads the Bitlis Journalists Association and is the editor-in-chief of the Bitlis News website, is facing up to three years in prison.

He has become the first journalist to be indicted under the controversial "disinformation law" enacted in October.

CLICK - Türkiye's new 'disinformation law' explained

The one-page indictment says the reason for the allegations was that Aygün "shared unfounded news about the incidents of sexual abuse of children, which is one of the sensitive issues on the country's agenda."

Also, Aygül said in the tweet that police and gendarmerie officers were suspects in a child abuse case, the prosecutors noted.

Aygün should be given the highest possible sentence as he tweeted as the head of the Bitlis Journalists Association, which expanded his audience, the prosecutors argued.

The Tatvan 1st Penal Court of First Instance will hear the first hearing on February 28.

Sharing the indictment on Twitter yesterday, Aygün said he would not defend himself.

"I was the first journalist to be arrested under the 'Censorship Law'," he wrote. "I won't make a defense in the case. Since this is a silencing law, I will be silent at the court. I won't legitimize the law by trying to defend myself."

Aygül had deleted the tweets he had shared within a few hours, apologizing that he had shared unconfirmed information. The tweets were about the allegations against several suspects, including security officers, of sexually abusing a girl.

Still, he was detained on the same day and was remanded in custody the day after. After eight days behind bars, he was released on December 22.

About the 'disinformation law'

According to the "Law on the Amendment of the Press Law and Some Laws," those who work for internet news portals are regarded as journalists and they are able to apply to the Department of Communication for a press credential.

Public employees working in information services in public institutions, radios and televisions will also be able to receive press credentials.

Internet news portals will be taken within the scope of periodical publications.
The proposed law named as a 'censorship law' by journalists' professional organizations also includes new imprisonment penalties.

The proposal reads, "Those who publicly distribute information which is not really related with the security of the country inside or outside, public order or public health with the purpose of creating concern, fear or panic among the people in a manner that domestic peace" may be destroyed will be punished with an imprisonment sentence of 1 to 3 years.

With the proposal, reporting offensive content related to the National Intelligence Agency activities and personnel is included within the scope of catalog crimes.

Article 29

The following expression was added to article 217 of the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237 dated 26/9/2004:

"Openly disseminating information misleading the public"

Article 217/A- (1) Anyone who spreads information about internal or external security of the country, public order and public health which is not true just in order to create concern, fear, or panic among people in a manner that domestic peace may be disrupted will be punished with imprisonment sentence of one to three years.

(2) If the crime is committed by an offender concealing their identity or within the framework of organizational activity, the penalty will be increased half fold."

(VK)