Journalist Dindar Karataş acquitted

* Photo: MLSA

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Journalist Dindar Karataş, facing charges of "being a member of a terrorist organization" has been acquitted.

Put on trial over his news and phone conversations, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Karataş had his fourth hearing at the Erzurum 3rd High Criminal Court in eastern Turkey today (November 17).

Both Karataş and his lawyer Erselan Aktan attended the hearing via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS), Karataş from the Van 4th High Criminal Court and Aktan from the İstanbul 22nd High Criminal Court. Karataş's other lawyer İrfan Sarı was present in the courtroom.

Making his defense as to the accusations, journalist Dindar Karataş, facing 5 to 10 years in prison on the offense charged, said that his news reports were cited as criminal evidence against him.

As reported by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), Dindar Karataş stated, "The fact that my news reports are being cited as criminal elements is unacceptable. It is also really bizarre that a couple news reports were selected from among hundreds. News reports are formed on the basis of a determination. It is in the hospital reports that those people in Tutak were subject to torture, but I am being tried here. My report should have been considered as a denouncement."

He briefly added: "My reports on prisons are also included in the case file. I have spent time in prison and I experienced worse than what is told in those news reports. I was under physical and technical surveillance for six months. Working for MA is presented as if it means to work for a terrorist organization. This is an official news agency and I still work there."

'No obligation to work for pro-government media'

Following Karataş, lawyer Aktan took the floor and noted that his client conducted an extensive research and reported on an incident of torture, and published it on a legal website. Aktan briefly stated:

"A villager is killed in Tutak, and my client reports on it. He speaks to the close ones and lawyers of the villager, conducts an extensive research on it and publishes it on a legal website. The prosecution attempts to determine even the syntax of news reports, which falls out of its scope.

"Moreover, the prosecution highlights 'management of perception' in their final opinion, however this concept has no legal basis."

Requesting the acquittal of his defendant, Aktan said that the case file consists of nothing that could constitute the offenses charged.

Lawyer Sarı took the floor after Aktan and remarked on his client's profession: "My client works for a news agency; there is no obligation for all to work for Yeni Şafak. One can work for an opposing outlet. He was subject to technical and physical surveillance following his reporting on torture in Tutak, and nothing came out of it. My client stands trial for his reporting."

Following the defense statements, the court ruled for the acquittal of journalist Karataş due to insufficient evidence for the offense charged.

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(HA/SD)