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Last update: 26-Apr-2020 |
The second hearing of a trial where Osman Akın, the former responsible managing editor of Yeni Yaşam newspaper, was accused of “terrorism propaganda” over two news stories published in the newspaper, took place on 24 January 2020 at the 24th High Criminal Court of Istanbul. P24 monitored the hearing, where Akın was represented by his lawyer Özcan Kılıç. Issuing their verdict at the end of the hearing, the court ruled in line with the prosecutor’s final opinion, which was presented at the first hearing, and convicted Akın of “systematically spreading propaganda for a terrorist group” and sentenced him to 1 year, 6 months and 22 days in prison.
A trial where Osman Akın, the former responsible managing editor of Yeni Yaşam daily, is accused of “systematically spreading terrorism propaganda” over two reports published in the newspaper, got under way on 14 January 2020 at the 24th High Criminal Court of Istanbul. P24 monitored the hearing, where Akın and his lawyer Özcan Kılıç were in attendance. Akın presented his defense statement in writing to the court and asked to be acquitted, saying the news stories in question were solely aimed at reporting. Kılıç addressed the court next, asking the court to hear the lawyers whose comments were featured in both news stories as witnesses. The prosecution asked the court to reject Kılıç’s request, arguing that it would not contribute to the case file. The prosecutor then submitted their final opinion, asking the court to convict Akın as charged. Granting Akın and his lawyer a continuance for the preparation of the final defense statement, the court adjourned the trial until 24 January 2020. 10 January 2020: Osman Akın, the responsible managing editor of Yeni Yaşam daily, was sentenced to 5 months in prison on 9 January 2020, at the end of the second hearing of his trial over an article titled “Afrinli tutuklulara zulüm” (Oppression targeting prisoners from Afrin). Akın was charged with “publicly degrading the military or security forces of the state” under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). The case was launched upon a complaint filed by the administration of Hatay H Type Prison against the news report, published on 1 March 2019. A report about the hearing, monitored by P24, can be accessed here. 22 October 2019: The second hearing in the trial of Osman Akın, the former responsible managing editor of Yeni Yaşam newspaper, on the charge of “disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organization” over news stories published in the paper took place on 22 October 2019 at the 28th High Criminal Court of Istanbul. P24 monitored the hearing, where Akın, who is held exempt from appearing in court, was not in attendance. Akın was represented by his lawyer Sercan Korkmaz. Presenting his final opinion in between hearings, the prosecutor requested Akın to be convicted of “terrorism propaganda.” Issuing its verdict at the end of the hearing, the court sentenced Akın to 1 year and 3 months in prison for “disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organization.” The sentence was deferred.
Osman Akın appears before court on TCK 301 charge Osman Akın, the former responsible managing editor of Yeni Yaşam daily, appeared before Istanbul’s 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 1 October 2019 for the first hearing of his trial on the charge of “publicly degrading the military or security forces of the state” as per Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). P24 monitored the hearing, where Akın and his lawyer Özcan Kılıç were in attendance. Kılıç requested the court to wait until the Parliament passes the anticipated Judicial Reform Package, which is also expected to include amendments to TCK 301. Accepting Kılıç’s request, the court adjourned the trial until 9 January 2020. |