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Standing trial over a news report published in daily Yeni Yaşam in March 2019, former Managing Editor of the newspaper Osman Akın has been sentenced to 5 months in prison.
Having his final hearing at the İstanbul 2nd Penal Court of First Instance today (January 9), journalist Osman Akın was facing charges over the news report "Persecution of Prisoners from Afrin" (Afrinli Tutuklulara Zulüm) published in Yeni Yaşam on March 1, 2019.
Charged with "publicly degrading the state of the Republic of Turkey and its military and security personnel" as per the Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), Akın has been given a 5-month deferred prison sentence as he accepted the deferment of the announcement of the verdict. His lawyer Özcan Kılıç has stated that they will appeal against the verdict.
Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Article no. 301 A person who publicly degrades Turkish Nation, State of the Republic of Turkey, Grand National Assembly of Turkey the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the judicial bodies of the State shall be sentenced a penalty of imprisonment for a term of six months to two years. A person who publicly degrades the military or security organisations shall be sentenced according to the provision set out in paragraph one. The expression of an opinion for the purpose of criticism does not constitute an offence. |
(HA/SD)
