Journalist fined for filming police violence, two new lawsuits filed for 'insulting Erdoğan'

 Photo: AA

According to bianet's Media Monitoring Database, trials of 10 journalists continued while new lawsuits were filed against two journalists in a week.

Here is the weekly summary of judicial interference in news media:

Lawsuit for filming maltreatment

Journalist İnan Ketenciler took a video of neighborhood guards' maltreatment of a citizen during detention and posted it on Twitter on June 23, 2019.

Upon the guards' complaint, the Cyber Crimes Investigation Bureau of the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation against Ketenciler.

He was initially charged with "acquiring personal data through illegal means or publishing them" but eventually received a sentence for "unauthorized recording or transferring of sound and video during investigation and prosecution proceedings" as per Article 286 of the Turkish Penal Code.

In yesterday's (October 8) hearing, Ketenciler was sentenced to 25 days in prison. The court has converted the prison sentence into a judicial fine of 500 Turkish lira (~63 US dollars) and deferred the announcement of the verdict.

Turkish Penal Code Article 286 - Recording of Sound or Image: Any person who, without authorization, records, or transfers, audio or visuals arising from the process of investigation or prosecution shall be sentenced to a penalty of imprisonment up to six months.

Click to read the article on Media Monitoring Database

Pro-government media executive sued columnist

Serhat Albayrak, the deputy chairperson of the pro-government Turkuvaz Media Group, filed academic and columnist Ceren Sözeri over a column article about the 2019 local elections titled, "Who made the AKP lose votes?"

In the article, she accuses the Turkuvaz Group's Sabah newspaper and ATV of spreading "fake news" on election night.

"Erdoğan's son-in-law and Minister of Treasury and Finance Berat Albayrak's brother Serhat Albayrak, who is also the chair of the SETA Foundation, heads the group," she says. 

The election for the İstanbul Mayor was narrowly won by the main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu but then annulled by the election authority due to "irregularities."

Albayrak demands 200,000 lira for (25,300 dollars) for damages.

The second hearing was held at the İstanbul 2nd Commercial Court of First Instance on Wednesday (October 7). The trial was adjourned till February 3, 2021.

Click to read the article on Media Monitoring Database

Three lawsuits for insulting the Erdoğans

Two lawsuits against journalists for "insulting the president" started this week.

Necla Demir, the former grant holder of Gazete Karınca news site, was charged with insulting the president over some articles on the website. In the first hearing yesterday, the prosecutor's office demanded her release. The next hearing will be held on October 28.

Journalist Oktay Candemir also had his first hearing over a Twitter post. The next hearing will be held on March 4.

The case over a 2019 article about the "Hermes bag" of Emine Erdoğan, the spouse of President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, continued Wednesday. 

An investigation was opened against Ender İmrek, a columnist for daily Evrensel, because of the article where he compared Emine Erdoğan to CHP İstanbul Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu.

İmrek was first charged with "insulting the president" and then Emine Erdoğan''s request to be a party of the trial was accepted in the hearing on June 24.

In yesterday's hearing, the court gave time for the preparation of defense as to the accusations. The next hearing will be held on December 2.

Turkish Penal Code Article 299 - Insulting the President of the Republic: Any person who insults the President of the Republic shall be sentenced to a penalty of imprisonment for a term of one to four years. Where the offense is committed in public, the sentence to be imposed shall be increased by one sixth.

Click to read the articles on Media Monitoring Database (1) (2) (3)

Can Dündar is declared a "fugitive"

Standing trial over a news report published on daily Cumhuriyet regarding the trucks of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) stopped by gendarmerie officers, renowned journalist Can Dündar was declared a "fugitive" and his property has been confiscated by a court verdict.

The court stated that despite the due announcement of the court, Dündar did not turned himself in to the court or any courthouse or law enforcement agency within the borders of Turkey and ruled that he shall now be considered a "fugitive."

Dündar is charged with "disclosing confidential state information."

Click to read the article on Media Monitoring Database

Former TV manager faces 15 years in prison

Ayşegül Doğan, the program coordinator of the IMC TV, which was shut down by a statutory decree in September 2016, was charged with "managing an illegal organization" over her meetings and interviews with the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) executives.

In the fifth hearing of the case yesterday, the prosecutor's office presented its opinion as to the accusations, demanding a prison sentence of up to 15 years for Doğan.

Click to read the article on Media Monitoring Database

(VK)