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The court of appeal has given its verdict in the lawsuit filed against Eren Erdem, an imprisoned Party Assembly member and former MP for the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), for insulting Minister of Treasury and Finance Berat Albayrak.
The 4th Civil Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice has upheld the verdict of the local court, which ruled that Erdem should pay 18,000 TRY (~3372 USD) of compensation to Albayrak.
Former CHP MP Barış Yarkadaş has criticized the verdict on Twitter, saying, "The price of criticizing, questioning and asking questions on behalf of the public is getting heavier."
Erdem will appear before judge today
A lawsuit has been filed against Eren Erdem because of the works that he did as the Editor-in-Chief of the Karşı newspaper.
Erdem faces 9.5 to 12 years in prison for the offenses of "Intentionally and willingly helping the armed terrorist organization while not being included in its hierarchical structure", "disclosing an anonymous witness," and "violating the privacy of the investigation."
After the indictment was accepted by the court, Eren Erdem went to İstanbul Atatürk Airport on May 21, 2018 but was not able to depart because of the international travel ban imposed on him.
Erdem was arrested on June 29, 2018 and is still held in the Silivri Prison.
The case will continue today (January 7) at the İstanbul 23rd Heavy Penal Court.
What is Erdem charged with?
In the indictment which was filed by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it is said that then MP Eren Erdem made statements on an anonymous witness nicknamed "Ayçiçeği" (sunflower) in the Karşı newspaper case and those statements were published on Zaman newspaper and Aktif Haber news website, both of which are shut. It is also alleged in the indictment that Erdem disclosed the anonymous witness for a second time and the Prosecutor's Office filed a criminal complaint against him.
According to the indictment, "Owner of the Karşı newspaper Turan Ababey and Eren Erdem met during the Gezi Park incidents. They decided to found the newspaper in October 2013. The newspaper, which was founded on February 9, 2014, ended publication after 66 days due to economic difficulties."
Erdem is charged with "Trying to make the government incapable of doing its duty by creating a perception of public opinion using press and broadcast organs." (AS/VK)
