Second Criminal Complaint Against SETA Report on Journalists

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The Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) has filed a complaint against the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) on the ground that the Foundation targeted and blacklisted the journalists with its report entitled "International Media Outlets' Extensions in Turkey."

CLICK - SETA Report on Journalists to be Taken to Court

In its complaint filed to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the MLSA has requested that "a legal action be taken against this foundation, which shared the personal information of journalists with the public in an unlawful manner and targeted them before the public through blacklisting."

In the petition of the Association, the SETA has been charged with "inciting the public to enmity and hatred or indignity" as per the Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), "recording of personal data" as per the Article 135 of the TCK and "encouraging to commit crimes" as per the Article 214.

The Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGC) also filed a criminal complaint against the report at İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan yesterday (July 8).

Veysel Ok: It is reminiscent of a police report

Speaking about the MLSA's criminal complaint, Association Co-Chair lawyer Veysel Ok has stated the following:

"This document shared on the social media accounts of SETA is far from being a scientific report, it is a document that involves blacklisting journalists who do independent journalism and questioning their understanding of news, associating them with terrorism and is reminiscent of a police report.

"Compiling and publishing the personal information, backgrounds, news, tweets and, even, retweets of journalists means targeting them. It is the construct and rationale of this document. And we, as the MLSA, have requested that the SETA Foundation account before the judiciary."

Concluding his remarks, Ok has also stated that "the report prepared by the SETA endangers the life safety of journalists." (TP/SD)