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21-Jan-2020 9:16 |
Prosecutor seeks conviction for journalist Şirin KabakcıŞirin Kabakcı, the former Konya bureau chief of the shuttered Zaman newspaper, appeared before the 35th High Criminal Court of Istanbul on 3 December 2019 for the eighth hearing of his trial on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” and the additional charges of “insult and slander through press” and “violation of confidentiality.” P24 monitored the hearing, which began three hours later than scheduled. Kabakcı and his lawyer Cumali Aydemir were in attendance in the courtroom. Intervenor Mehmet Şamil Şenalp was also present along with his lawyer Necmettin Cüneyt Şenalp. The presiding judge Ahmet Aygün announced that the prosecution submitted their final opinion on 11 November 2019. Kabakcı was initially sued by Mehmet Hasip Şenalp, one of the owners of Kon TV, for “insult and slander through press,” but the case was closed in 2015 after “no grounds for trial” were found. The case was relaunched in the wake of the 15 July 2016 coup attempt and later merged with the case in which Kabakcı faces the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization.” Reading aloud the final opinion, prosecutor Emre Us requested the court to sentence Kabakcı on the “membership in a terrorist organization” charge. The prosecutor also asked the file to be separated on the charges of “insult through press” and “breach of confidentiality.” Addressing the court, the intervenor’s lawyer said that they would not be requesting an extension of the investigation. Şenalp said he did not agree with the decision to separate the cases since the defendant’s alleged insult and threat had come “as a reflex” after his client exposed links to “FETÖ.” But personally his client had nothing against the accused, Şenalp told the court. Kabakcı’s lawyer Aydemir requested additional time to prepare their final defense statements. Accepting the request for continuance, the court adjourned the trial until 20 February 2020. The trial of journalist Şirin Kabakçı, the former Konya bureau chief of the shuttered daily Zaman, resumed on 15 October 2019 at the 35th High Criminal Court of Istanbul. This was the seventh hearing in the case, where Kabakçı is charged with “membership in a terrorist group.” P24 monitored the hearing, where Kabakçı and his lawyer were in attendance. The court heard the testimony of Burhan Kaya, a witness who said he used to be the person in charge of accounting in the regional organization of the Fethullah Gülen network. Kaya told the court that he knew Kabakçı as a journalist and that he had no information as to whether he was a member of the Gülen network or not. Addressing the court next, Kabakçı’s lawyer said the witness testimony was conflicting and rejected the witness statement against his client. The prosecutor then requested the court to send the case file for the preparation of the final opinion. In its interim ruling, the court agreed to send the case file to the prosecution and adjourned the trial until 3 December 2019.
Şirin Kabakçı, the former Konya bureau chief of the shuttered newspaper Zaman, appeared before the 35th High Criminal Court of Istanbul on 2 July 2019 for the sixth hearing of his trial on the charge of “membership in a terrorist group.” Kabakçı and his lawyer Cumali Aydemir were both in attendance at the courtroom for the hearing, monitored by P24. The presiding judge informed Kabakçı and those in attendance that testimony against Kabakçı by a witness who asked to benefit from effective remorse provisions had been submitted to the court in between courtroom hearings. Kabakçı’s lawyer told the court they needed additional time to examine the testimony. Kabakçı also said he would like to give his statement in response to the witness testimony after examining it. In its interim ruling at the end of the hearing, the court ruled to begin the procedures for taking the testimony of the witness and adjourned the trial until 15 October 2019. 28 March 2019: 28 December 2018:
Zaman journalist Kabakçı released on judicial probation 20 months after incarceration
 Journalist Şirin Kabakçı, who used to be Konya bureau chief for the Zaman daily, Turkey’s highest circulating newspaper before its takeover and closure by the Turkish government in 2016, was released from jail on Wednesday on judicial probation 20 months after he was put behind bars, the aktifhaber news website reported. Kabakçı was one of dozens of journalists who were arrested in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016 because they used to work for media outlets affiliated with the Gülen movement. The Turkish government accuses the movement of masterminding the abortive coup, although the movement strongly denies any involvement. The journalist faces charges of membership in a terrorist organization, which is how the Turkish government labels the Gülen movement. At the latest hearing in the journalist’s trial at the İstanbul 35th High Criminal Court on Wednesday, the court decided for the release of Kabakçı on judicial probation considering the time he has already spent in jail. The next hearing in his trial will be held on March 28. In his defense, Kabakçı said he only did his job as a journalist while working at Zaman and had no links with the Gülen movement. “My only job was to report the news. I am a person who acts of my own free will. I have been away from my family for 20 months. I request that you make a ruling taking this into consideration. I ask for my trial without arrest,” Kabakçı said in his defense. Source
16 August 2018: Zaman journalist Kabakçı remains behind bars 16 months after incarceration
Kabakçı, who used to be Konya bureau chief for the Zaman daily, Turkey’s highest circulating newspaper before its takeover and closure by the Turkish government in 2016. Kabakçı, who has been behind bars for 16 months, is one of the dozens of journalists who were arrested in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016 because they used to work for media outlets affiliated with the Gülen movement. The Turkish government accuses the movement of masterminding the abortive coup, although the movement strongly denies any involvement. According to tweets posted by @P24DavaTakip, which has been following the trials of journalists in Turkey, Kabakçı attended the most recent hearing of his trial at the İstanbul 35th High Criminal Court on Thursday through the IT Voice and Image System (SEGBİS) from Konya Prison, where he is being held in pretrial detention. The journalist is facing charges of terrorism. Kabakçı’s lawyer, Cumali Aydemir, said his client was only involved in journalistic activities and that there is no witness testimony about Kabakçı’s involvement in any terrorist activity. The lawyer asked for the release of his client. In his defense, Kabakçı said during the time he worked in Konya he did nothing other than journalism. “I request my release. I have been jailed for 16 months. My family lives in Bartın [a northwestern Turkish province]. My three daughters need their father,” said the journalist. The prosecutor in the trial asked for the continuation of Kabakçı’s imprisonment due to the lack of some files in his dossier. The court ruled to keep Kabakçı behind bars. The next hearing in the journalist’s trial is scheduled for Oct. 9. Şirin Kabakçı ordered to remain behind bars after 2nd hearing
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An İstanbul high criminal court has ruled to continue the imprisonment of Şirin Kabakçı, who used to be Konya bureau chief for the Zaman daily, Turkey’s highest circulating newspaper before its takeover and closure by the Turkish government in 2016.
