Journalists Kurt and Doğan Acquitted in "Photo Trial"

Haber Türk newspaper reporter Cemal Doğan and Hürriyet newspaper photo reporter Nurettin Kurt were acquitted in the case regarding their coverage of an alleged assassination plot against Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç. They had published the picture of Colonel E.Y.B. on his way to the prosecution to give his statement in the context of the assassination plot.

The trial was opened upon the complaint of prosecutor Mustafa Bilgili after the photograph of the colonel had been published on 30 December 2009. Haber Türk brought it together with the news entitled "Waiting on foot for 4.5 hours".

Court: Within the scope of journalistic duty

The journalists were facing imprisonment of up to three years each at the Istanbul Special Authority 11^th High Criminal Court. They were charged with "showing public officials as targets for terror organizations" according to article 6 of the Anti-Terror Law.

The court ruled that both journalists acted within the scope of their duties of journalism and the aim to inform.

The investigation was initiated after the arrest of two military officers on duty in the Mobilization Regional Presidency of the Special Forces Command. Thereupon, prosecutor Şemsettin Özcan conducted a search of the so-called cosmic room on 26 December 2009. It has still not been announced to which terrorist organization the indictment actually referred. (EÖ/VK)