Constitutional Court: Arrest of Journalist Deniz Yücel is ‘Violation of Rights’

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdsh

Announcing its ruling on Deniz Yücel, the daily Die Welt's former Turkey reporter, the Constitutional Court has ruled that his one-year arrest on charges of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "inciting the public to enmity and hatred" has violated his rights.

The Constitutional Court has concluded the case of journalist Deniz Yücel, who has returned to Germany after being released in February 2018.

Pronouncing its judgement on Yücel, the Constitutional Court has ruled that his personal freedom and security and freedom of expression and press have been violated by his one-year arrest. The court has also indicated that his interview with Cemil Bayık, one of the leading figures of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), is within the scope of journalistic activities.

Court has ruled for non-pecuniary damages

Making an individual application to the Constitutional Court when he was still behind bars, Yücel's application has been reviewed two years later.

Accordingly, the court has ruled that Deniz Yücel's personal freedom and security have been violated by his arrest "as he was arrested without reasonable suspicion as to his committal of crime" and his freedom of expression and press have been violated "as he was arrested due to his news and articles as part of his journalistic activities."

Giving a ruling of violation of rights by a majority vote, the Court has ruled that Yücel shall be paid 25 thousand Turkish Lira in non-pecuniary damages.(HA/SD)