Journalist Sinan Aygül becomes first person to be arrested under 'disinformation law'
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Journalist Sinan Aygül has been arrested on charge of "spreading disinformation" in the eastern city of Bitlis after reporting on a child abuse case.
Aygül, who is the editor-in-chief of the Bitlis News website and the head of the Bitlis Journalists Association, had tweeted about the involvement of a police officer and a specialist sergeant in a harassment case concerning a 14-year-old child.
The journalist received a warning from the local governor that he should change some details. Aygül responded that he regrets reacting rapidly to the allegations without knowing the details with certainty.
Three hours after sharing the news about the alleged harassment, the police searched Aygül's house, he wrote on Twitter yesterday (December 14). "Police are searching the house. I will be detained and brought to the police station," he wrote.
After his detention, a penal judgeship of peace ruled for his arrest. Aygül has become the first person to be arrested under a "disinformation law" enacted in October.
About the 'disinformation law'According to the "Draft Bill on the Amendment of the Press Law and Some Laws," those who work for internet news portals will be regarded as journalists and they will be able to apply to the Department of Communication for a press credential. Public employees working in information services in public institutions, radios and televisions will also be able to receive press credentials. Internet news portals will be taken within the scope of periodical publications. The proposal reads, "Those who publicly distribute information which is not really related with the security of the country inside or outside, public order or public health with the purpose of creating concern, fear or panic among the people in a manner that domestic peace" may be destroyed will be punished with an imprisonment sentence of 1 to 3 years. With the proposal, reporting offensive content related to the National Intelligence Agency activities and personnel is included within the scope of catalog crimes. The parliament passed the billon October 14. Article 29 The following expression was added to article 217 of the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237 dated 26/9/2004: "Openly disseminating information misleading the public" Article 217/A- (1) Anyone who spreads information about internal or external security of the country, public order and public health which is not true just in order to create concern, fear, or panic among people in a manner that domestic peace may be disrupted will be punished with imprisonment sentence of one to three years. (2) If the crime is committed by an offender concealing their identity or within the framework of organizational activity, the penalty will be increased half fold." |
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(HA/WM/VK)