The fourth hearing of the case against Evrensel newspaper’s editor-in-chief Fatih Polat on charges of insulting the President via his article published on 28 May 2017 titled “What do Erdoğan’s respondents say about his family? was seenin court.    

Polat’s lawyer Devrim Avcı presented the original version of the news article on theblacksea.eu, which was included in the column in question. Hunter, Craig Shaw signed the said news is still available on the site, he said. 

“Violation of expression freedom”

Avcı expressed that the article won an award abroad but considered as a crime in Tukrey and added: When the same authors article was published on the clients column, clients was sued. Moreover, the client published the article as it was and asked, “Let’s see what they will respond to these claims.” Even this is a violation of freedom of expression. ”     

“Accused news is lawful ”

He recalled that in the established case-law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Court of Cassation, there were decisions that could harshly criticize political persons.    Avcı said, “The AKP leader is a political person and he is not exempt from these criticisms. The news is within the scope of freedom of expression. It is lawful and within the boundaries of reporting. Verme    

“Journalists’ job is to ask questions”

In his defense, Fatih Polat said, işi The job of the journalist is to ask questions. If you stop asking questions, journalism cannot be fulfilled. ”  The court, explaining its decision, stated that the statements in the news were intended to inform the public and that the news was within the scope of freedom of information as defined in Article 28 of the Constitution and acquitted Polat.