Years after Özgür Gündem's closure, dozens of journalists still on trial

Some 48 journalists and media employees stood trial in the past two weeks, with 17 of them charged with offenses related to "illegal organizations," according to bianet's Media Monitoring Database.

In two cases concerning the pro-Kurdish Özgür Gündem newspaper, which was closed down in 2016, four defendants were sentenced to prison on "terrorism" charges and 22 are facing prison sentences for resisting the police during a raid.

Trials of 20 journalists for various offenses, including "insult," "inciting the public into enmity and hatred," "being a member of an illegal organization," and "insulting the president," continued in the two weeks.

Also, courts blocked access to reports about Berat Albayrak, the former finance minister and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's son-in-law, and former intelligence and judiciary officials.

Here is a summary of the legal interferences with the news media between February 8 and 21:

Özgür Gündem cases

Özgür Gündem newspaper was closed down by a statutory decree in August 2016 because of "becoming a media organ" of the outlawed Kurdistan Democratic Party (PKK).

Four defendants were sentenced to prison on "terrorism" charges in the Özgür Gündem main trial on February 15.

The newspaper's grant holder Kemal Sancılı, managing editor İnan Kızılkaya and attorney Eren Keskin were sentenced to 6 years and 4 months in prison for "being a member of a terrorist organization."

Zana Kaya, the newspaper's editor-in-chief, was sentenced to 1 year and 13 months in prison for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization."

CLICK - Four sentenced to prison in Özgür Gündem newspaper case

Also, the case concerning a 2016 police raid on the newspaper continued on February 16. The court ruled that the enforcement of the detention warrants issued against defendants should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on April 22.

Twenty-two journalists and employees of the newspaper are standing trial for "using force or threats against a public officer to prevent them from performing their duty."

In another case concerning a 2016 solidarity campaign with the newspaper, an appeals court in November overturned the acquittal of three defendants of "terrorist propaganda." Their retrial started on February 3.

CLICK - 'Overturn of acquittals intended to punish us'

CLICK - Court says journalists' equipment 'lost' after being confiscated during investigation

When Özgür Gündem was founded in May 1992, it was the first pro-Kurdish daily newspaper in a time of heightened conflict in the predominantly Kurdish populated eastern and southeastern regions.

The newspaper survived less than two years before being closed down by a court in April 1994 due to its "connections" to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

During the time it was published, the newspaper was pulled off the shelves several times and its journalists were investigated over "terrorism" links.

Also, dozens of its journalists and vendors, including renowned author and journalist Musa Anter, were assassinated in what is known as "the unsolved murders" during the conflict in the 1990s.

Özgür Gündem reopened in 2011, at a time when the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) was running what it called a "resolution process" to the Kurdish question.

In its second spell that lasted more than five years, Özgür Gündem was temporarily suspended several times and its journalists were sent to prison as well.

During the state of emergency declared after the July 2016 coup attempt, Özgür Gündem was first temporarily suspended by a court and then was permanently closed down by a statutory decree in August 2016.

Blocked news reports

News reports about a crime organization allegedly established by a judicial official at the Court of Cassation, an intelligence officer and a person who had been previously convicted of drug trafficking were blocked by a penal judgeship of peace.

According to the report first published by daily Cumhuriyet, a member of the organization forced a businessperson to sell her company's shares to him in exchange for the money she owed to him.

After an investigation by the businessperson, prosecutors refused to investigate the incident, according to the report.

Related articles on Cumhuriyet's website and two other sites were banned as per Law on Regulating Broadcasting (Publication) on the Internet and Fighting Against Crimes Committed by Means of Such Broadcasting.

Also, reports about a social media post about Berat Albayrak, the former finance minister and the son-in-law of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, were banned by a penal judgeship of peace.

In the tweet in question, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) said it would introduce a game called "The Son-in-Law is on the Run," referring to Albayrak's lack of public appearance since his resignation in November.

"The Central Bank's 128 billion dollars is missing but who is responsible for that, the son-in-law, is on the run," says the tweet.

Other trials

Journalists who stood trial in two weeks and the charges against them:

Ahmet Altan - Insulting a public official
Rüstem Batum - Insulting the president
Çiğdem Toker - Compensation claim for spiritual damages
Özgür Boğatekin - Slander
Nagehan Alçı - Insulting a public official
Görkem - Kınacı - Provoking the public into hatred and enmity
Caner Taşpınar - Insult
Ayşen Şahin - Provoking the public into hatred and enmity (detention)
Kenan Kırkaya - Propagandizing for a terrorist organization
Hatice Kemer - Propagandizing for a terrorist organization (acquitted)

Journalists who stood trial for "being a member of an illegal organization": Selman Keleş, Arif Arslan, Nazan Sala, Şehriban Abi, Cemil Uğur, Adnan Bilen, Ali Sönmez Kayar, Pınar Gayıp, Semiha Şahin, Meşale Tolu, Selman Keleş

(VK)