Lately, Turkey’s prosecutors started to charge journalists with “property damage” and “trespassing” instead of usual charges like “insult”, “breach of confidentiality” or “propaganda”.
For instance, ETHA reporter İsminaz Ergün has been ordered to stand trial for involving in a quarrel during the case concerning the killing of Gezi protestor Mehmet Ayvalıtaş. DİHA reporter Nazım Daştan, on the other hand, has been sued for trespassing while reporting between Kilis and Rojava provinces.
Sued for involving in a fight
On November 21, 2013, İstanbul Anadolu 8th High Criminal Court was expecting to open the case regarding the killing of Mehmet Ayvalıtaş - a trial that turned into a fight after the announcement of Ayvalıtaş family admitted in the courtroom. The police intervened with tear gas.
Following the incident, Nihat Demir drafted an indictment, charging 16 suspects including ETHA reporter İsminaz Ergün, Limter-İş Union Chariman Kanber Saygılı, ESP member Fırat Kınalı with “property damage”, “resisting a public officer” and “public gathering and demonstrations law violation. The hearing was set to February 19, 2015.
Journalist charged with “trespassing border”
Kilis Prosecutor’s Office, on the other hand, charged DİHA reporter Nazım Daştan, with trespassing the border in Rojava. She was ordered to stand trial on November 11.
Detained on August 14 while reporting on the fleeing of Syrian refugees for “trespassing the degree 2 military zone”, she was later on released after submitting her statement. During the detention, her camera was also seized - which was included in the indictment as crime evidence. (EÖ/BM).
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso and its partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. The project's page: Safety Net for European Journalists. A Transnational Support Network for Media Freedom in Italy and South-east Europe.
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