Court Rejects Istanbul Mayor’s Lawsuit Against Journalists
![Court Rejects Istanbul Mayor’s Lawsuit Against Journalists](https://static.bianet.org/system/uploads/1/articles/spot_image/000/151/610/original/501-260.jpg)
Bakırköy 8th District Court rejected a lawsuit by Istanbul mayor Kadir Topbaş for 40,000 lira damages regarding two news articles revealing the commercial relations of his family.
The aforementioned articles appeared on Çağdaş Tuzla news website and Birgün newspaper respectively. Defendants Halil Özen and İbrahim Çeşmecioğlu (editor-in-chief of Birgün newspaper) were accused of the articles entitled “Topbaş’s unlicensed wrench lies by the river” and “Topbaş’s partners face prosecution for unlicensed wrench”.
While the verdict was issued on March 21, the news broke yesterday. The verdict underlined that, in case of conflict between press freedom and individual values, public good is taken into consideration.
Published on September 8 and 13, 2009 respectively, the aforementioned articles informed that Saray Çiftliği, a wrench owned by mayor Topbaş’s cousins, was located in Ömerli Water Reservoir with no licensing - for which cousins faced prosecution previously. It also claimed that the wrench provided goods for Saray Muhallebicisi, a restaurant chain run by Topbaş family.
What happened?
In 2009, a heavy rain caused floods on Istanbul’s rivers, leaving 31 dead.
“We will demolish whatever is occupying Ayazma river. We will reopen every single river basin in the city. We will not tolerate this again,” Kadir Topbaş said.
Later on, it also turned out that the Family Topbaş Wrench was located on Değirmen River Basin. (EÖ/HK/BM)
BİA MEDIA MONITORING REPORT
The era of 'judicial control' confinement and torture in journalism
![The era of 'judicial control' confinement and torture in journalism](https://static.bianet.org/list-haber/2024/05/02/the-era-of-judicial-control-confinement-and-torture-in-journalism.webp)
BİA MEDIA MONITORING / JULY-AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2023
Desire to silence journalists to conceal crimes
![Desire to silence journalists to conceal crimes](https://static.bianet.org/list-haber/2023/10/04/desire-to-silence-journalists-to-conceal-crimes.jpg)
BİA MEDIA MONITORING / APRIL-MAY-JUNE 2023
Pressure on journalists increases following the elections
![Pressure on journalists increases following the elections](https://static.bianet.org/system/uploads/1/articles/spot_image/000/281/362/original/basınozgurlugu.jpg)
MAY 3 WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
Journalism fighting for survival before the elections
![Journalism fighting for survival before the elections](https://static.bianet.org/system/uploads/1/articles/spot_image/000/278/119/original/eng1_(12).jpg)
BİA MEDIA MONITORING REPORT 2022
Journalists shackled ahead of elections
![Journalists shackled ahead of elections](https://static.bianet.org/system/uploads/1/articles/spot_image/000/274/640/original/Ozgurbasın1.jpg)