Hearings of 22 People Held in 2 Özgür Gündem Trials

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Cases brought against Özgür Gündem Newspaper, which was closed through a statutory decree, continued at İstanbul Courthouse 14th Heavy Penal Court in Çağlayan.

Having been tried due to their articles published on the newspaper, Eren Keskin, Reyhan Çapan, Reyhan Hacıoğlu, Nuray Özdoğan, Celalettin Can, Ayşe Batumlu, Ayşe Berktay, Filiz Koçali and Hüseyin Aykol appeared before judge. Hearing of the nine journalists was adjourned to July 9.

In the second trial, hearings of Faruk Eren, Ertuğrul Mavioğlu, Celal Başlangıç, Ömer Ağın, İhsan Çaralan, Celalettin Can, Fehim Işık, Öncü Akgül, Hüseyin Aykol, Veysel Kemer, Yüksel Oğuz, Mehmet Şirin Taşdemir and Dilşah Karakaya were held, who are tried for having participated in the Editors-in-Chief on Watch campaign.

Prosecutor submitted dictum for 13 journalists. Hüseyin Aykol faces up to 13 years in prison on charge of “successive propaganda for an illegal organization”, and other 12 people face up to 7.5 years in prison on charge of “propagandizing for an illegal organization”. The hearing will continue on July 16.

Peace Foundation Chair Hakan Tahmaz, Human Rights Association of Turkey (TİHV) İstanbul Branch Chair Ümit Efe, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MP Filiz Kerestecioğlu, Reporters Without Borders Representative to Turkey Erol Önderoğlu were among the ones who watched the hearing.

The court committee consisted of the following figures: Chief Judge: Atilla Öztürk; Members: Hasan Aydın, Mücteba Akkaya; Prosecutor: Ercan Gümüş.