Journalist Doğan Akın acquitted of ‘Fuat Avni tweets’

* Photo: Punto24

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T24 news website founder and Editor-in-Chief Doğan Akın has been acquitted in the lawsuit filed against him for "reporting on 108 tweets posted from the 'Fuat Avni' account from March 2014 to April 2016."

CLICK - Journalist Akın Sued for 'Aiding FETÖ' over Reports on Tweets

The second hearing of the journalist was held at the İstanbul 25th Heavy Penal Court in İstanbul Çağlayan Courthouse today (July 2). Akın and his attorneys were present at court, as well as Erol Önderoğlu, the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Representative to Turkey.

In his opinion as to the accusations, the prosecutor demanded that Akın be acquitted of charged offense. Speaking as part of his defense as to the accusations, journalist Akın said, "I agree with the opinion as to the accusations. I tried to do my job, I request my acquittal."

Announcing its ruling, the court board has ruled that Doğan Akın shall be acquitted as the elements of the crime did not arise. The ruling has noted that "while a public suit was filed against the defendant for willingly and knowingly aiding a terrorist organization as a non-member, a ruling of acquittal shall be given for him as the elements of the offense charged did not arise and the act in question was not defined as a crime in the law."

What happened?

Journalist Doğan Akın was sued for reporting on 108 tweets posted by an account named, "Fuat Avni," which was previously charged with propagandizing for the "Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ)," which is held accountable for the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

While the indictment said that "it was determined that Akın did not have hierarchical connection with the organization and that he published numerous news reports and articles against the organization," it still requested Doğan Akın be tried for "willingly and knowingly aiding the organization despite not being a member of the organization."

Akın was facing from 5 to 15 years in prison as the indictment was accepted by the İstanbul 25th Heavy Penal Court.

The "Fuat Avni" account was active between 2013 and 2016 and targeted the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in its tweets. The account, with hundreds of thousands of followers, claimed to be giving information from inside the party. Several people were detained in an investigation against the account, which was linked by authorities to the FETÖ.

(HA/SD)