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Translator Sebla Küçük, who faced up to 7 years and 6 months in prison on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" due to her social media posts about the Operation Olive Branch*, has been acquitted.
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Küçük had her first hearing at the İstanbul 35th Heavy Penal Court in İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan yesterday (November 22).
Attending the hearing with her attorneys, Küçük presented her written statement of defense. In her defense, Küçük stated that she works as a journalist and translator, translated the news published by international news agencies into Turkish without adding any further comments and posted them on social media. Küçük demanded her acquittal.
Her posts were of journalistic nature
The court board ruled that Sebla Küçük shall be acquitted on the ground that the elements of the crime did not arise. The board stated that her social media posts were of journalistic nature and did not constitute a crime.
Küçük shared the verdict of acquittal on her Twitter account in following words: "We have been acquitted. I would like to thank everyone who has given support. #çevirisuçdeğildir (Translation is not a crime)." (HA/SD)
* The Operation Olive Branch was launched by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) with the support of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) against the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Afrin, Syria on January 20, 2018.