The new Turkey
Rahmi Yıldırım.
The head of the disciplinary committee of the Turkish Journalists Union (TGS)

21-Feb-2020

25 December 2019:

Rahmi Yıldırım acquitted in “insult” case

Journalist Rahmi Yıldırım, who is also the head of the disciplinary committee of the Turkish Journalists Union (TGS), appeared before an Ankara court on 25 December 2019 for the second hearing of his trial on the charge of “insulting a public official.” Issuing its verdict at the end of the hearing, Ankara’s Gölbaşı 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance ruled for Yıldırım’s acquittal. The accusation stemmed from a blog entry dated 3 February 2017 Yıldırım posted on his personal blog site, he was accused of “insulting” Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.

2 October 2019:

Journalist Rahmi Yıldırım appears in court on “insult” charge

Journalist Rahmi Yıldırım, who is also the head of the disciplinary committee of the Turkish Journalists Union (TGS), appeared before an Ankara court on 2 October 2019 for the first hearing of his trial on the charge of “insulting a public official.”

The accusation stems from a blog entry dated 3 February 2017 Yıldırım posted on his personal blog site. Yıldırım is accused of “insulting” Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.

Addressing the Gölbaşı 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance for his defense statement, Yıldırım asserted that his blog entry did not include any insulting remarks. He also told the court that the case was filed after the expiry of the four-month statute of limitation in Turkey’s Press Law and asked the court to dismiss the case. Yıldırım’s lawyers asked the court to acquit their client. The court adjourned the trial until 25 December 2019.