Journalists acquitted of 'degrading the state' in trial for accusing government of 'hostage diplomacy'

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Two former reporters for Cumhuriyet newspaper were acquitted yesterday (October 22) in the trial over news reports about a US pastor's release from prison following negotiations between Ankara and Washington.

Having published a news report titled, "As the hostage diplomacy collapses," Alican Uludağ and Duygu Güvenç were charged with "publicly degrading the Turkish nation and the state" as per Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.

While the reporters did not attend the hearing at the İstanbul 2nd Penal Court of First Instance, their attorneys were present at the courtroom.

Uludağ's attorney Buket Yazıcı said in the hearing that the purpose of the report was not to degrade the nation and the state. "The fact that Brunson was an element of negotiation was widely covered by the press. It is a public issue. We want an acquittal."

Güvenç's attorney Abbas Yalçın said, "A journalist can write their criticism about an event. This is a right granted by the Constitution and no one can be punished because of exercising their rights. Acting like this event never happened, it didn't cause an economic crisis is the resentment of the judiciary. The judiciary can't be resentful" and demanded the acquittal of his client.

Presenting their opinion as to the accusations, the prosecutor demanded both journalists be penalized as per Article 301.

The court acquitted them on the grounds that "the charged act was not defined as a crime."

(HA/VK)