Journalist Mavioğlu Acquitted

Radikal daily editor Ertuğrul Mavioğlu has been acquitted on charges related to an interview he made with the rebel group PKK's leader Murat Karayılan.

İstanbul

Journalist Ertuğrul Mavioğlu has been acquitted at the trial where he was charged with "making propaganda of a terrorist organization". He argued that conducted interviews is a part of his profession and the court ruled that he had no intention of committing a crime when talking to the head of the rebel Kurdish group PKK.

Mavioğlu's interview with Karayılan was published at daily Radikal between 28 and 30 October 2010. He was charged with article 6/2 of the infamous Anti-Terror Law (TMK).

Mavioğlu and his lawyer Yücel Döşemeci attended the last hearing of the case, held in Istanbul 11^th High Criminal Court yesterday.

During the sitting, Mavioğlu defended himself, saying "I'm a journalist. I did what my profession professes. I didn't propagate anyone's ideas. I acted on the belief that everybody should be heard in order to end this war".

The court also acquitted Radikal's responsible editor Hasan Kılıç. (IC/EÜ)

journalist mavioğlu