Army Sues Reporter Rahmi Yildirim

Yildirim is faced with up to three years in prison for criticizing some generals relations with holding companies, in an article published on www.sansursuz.com. In a second investigation opened against the writer after the article was published in Sol.

Erol Önderoğlu

Reporter Rahmi Yildirim is being charged with "insulting the state's military forces," by writing an article titled, "Generals are protectors of the capital system, they are its ordinary soldiers, its actors and figure artists." The article was published on the Web site sansursuz.com .

Yildirim also faces up to three years in prison for another article titled, "The qualified one gets the job done."

The case was opened upon complaint by General Ilker Basbug on behalf of the Head of the General Staff. The reporter will stand trial on September 7 in an Ankara court.

A military complaint results in a trial

Yildirim, who still works as a freelance journalist, has testified in front of a court about his article on military and civilian state officials who were allegedly involved in malpractice.

Yildirim told the court that Turkey has to start tolerating criticism.

Lack of Legal Grounds in Second Complaint

A second investigation was opened against Yildirim after his article titled, "The qualified one gets the job done," was published in the "Sol" (Left) magazine. The Istanbul Prosecutor's Office decided there is lack of grounds for legal action since a case has already been opened against the writer for the same article in Ankara. (EO/EU/EA/YE)

Origin

BÄ°A News Center

Erol Önderoğlu

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A graduate of the French Language and Literature Department at İstanbul University. He has served as the Turkey representative for the international organization Reporters Without...

A graduate of the French Language and Literature Department at İstanbul University. He has served as the Turkey representative for the international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), where he began as a reporter in 1996. Since 1999, he has worked at bianet, a project of the IPS Communication Foundation, as the coordinator of the Legal Support Desk, editor for freedom of expression, and editor-in-chief. He has authored more than 4,800 signed news articles and opinion pieces. He has also written for Bizim Gazete and the journal Güncel Hukuk. He currently prepares the Media Monitoring Reports at bianet.