‘So-Called Reporter’ Lawsuit Against Journalist Ergin Çağlar

* Photo: Ergin Çağlar / Facebook

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Released on probation on August 20 after being detained as part of an investigation conducted by the Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on August 16, Mezopotamya Agency reporter Ergin Çağlar has faced a lawsuit on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization".

While the bill of indictment drafted by the prosecutor has been accepted by the Mersin 8th Heavy Penal Court, the prosecutor has referred to journalist Ergin Çağlar as a "so-called reporter" in the indictment.

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The accounts of anonymous witnesses have also been included in the indictment by the prosecutor. Based on these accounts, the prosecutor has indicated that Çağlar "reported on the protests and events guided by the organization and sent these news to news websites such as ANF, Nuçe Ciwan, Özgür Manşet and Mezopotamya."

Reporting on protests counted as offense

The prosecutor has also counted it as an offense that Ergin Çağlar followed up and reported on the protests in Mersin regarding the hunger strikes started by inmates in prisons with the demand that the isolation on imprisoned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan be lifted.

The indictment has referred to Çağlar in following words:

"It has been understood that the suspect named Ergin Çağlar attended the mass meetings and statements for the press organized upon the instructions published on the website called ANF and turned into propaganda for the PKK/KCK terrorist organization with his co-called reporter identity, he published news praising the organization and sharing its violent actions, thereby committing the charged offense of terror propaganda..."

First hearing on December 5

As the above indictment has been accepted by the Mersin 8th Heavy Penal Court, a lawsuit has been filed against Çağlar based on this indictment. Accordingly, he will have his first hearing on December 5. (HA/SD)

* News source: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)