Fine for Student Threatening Publisher

Just after Hrant Dink’s murder, high school student Sahin threatened publisher Abay, who had made a statement relating to the murder, with death. He has been given a fine.

Erol Önderoğlu

The Sultanahmet 8th Penal Court decided on the punishment for high school student Mert Sahin, aged 20, on 31 March.

Death threat by email

Following the murder of journalist Hrant Dink on 19 January 2007, publisher Necati Abay had written an statement, entitled “Another journalist has been murdered, Hrant Dink was killed by the ‘good guys’”. Abay is the spokesperson of the Platform for Solidarity with Imprisoned Journalists (TGDP).

Sahin then sent him a death threat by email. The prosecution had initially demanded imprisonment from 2 to 5 years, under Articles 106/2 and 53 of the Turkish Penal Code, for “threatening anonymously or with special signs.”

However, the prosecutor changes his mind at the last hearing because the defendant sent the email in his own name, and demanded a six-month prison sentence.

Not enough of a deterrent

The court first agreed to this sentence, which was reduced to five months for extenuating circumstances. Finally, the sentence was converted into a fine of 3,000 YTL (around 1,500 Euros).

While publisher Abay welcomed the fact that the person threatening him was punished, he added that “death threats have become cheap.” His lawyer, Gülizar Tuncer, has appealed against the sentence. (EÖ/GG)

Origin

Bıa news centre

Necati Abay Mert Şahin death threat Hrant Dink murder

Erol Önderoğlu

[email protected]

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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.