Lawyer Erdal Dogan in "Insult" Trial

Following a criminal complaint by lawyer Fuat Turgut, lawyer Erdal Dogan is on trial for insulting the former.

Erol Önderoğlu

Lawyer Erdal Dogan, a joint plaintiff in the Hrant Dink murder case, is on trial for his comments on lawyer Fuat Turgut, defense lawyer for murder suspect Yasin Hayal. When the Dink murder trial began on 2 July, Turgut said to the murdered journalist's family, "How many Armenians there are here!", following which the two lawyers argued.

Now Dogan is on trial for remarks he made in the Aksam newspaper on 9 April 2007. In the article, entitled "The Big Brothers Use the Law Well", Dogan said: "What should be on trial is the targeting and threatening of Hrant Dink and the obstruction of a just trial; when a murder suspect works as a lawyer, that is when there is nothing left to say legally."

Based on these words, Fuat Turgut filed a criminal complaint against Dogan. A trial, in which 5,000 YTL compensation are demanded, was opened at Sariyer 2nd Criminal Court of Peace yesterday (4 December).

Dogan's lawyer Ercan Kanar argues that the court is not authorised to hear the case and that the Beyoglu Criminal Court of Peace should be in charge. The case was adjourned until 5 February 2008 in order to await a decision on who has jurisdiction. (EÖ/AG)

Origin

Bıa news centre

Erdal Doğan Fuat Turgut Hrant Dink murder case

Erol Önderoğlu

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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.