International Press Institute prepared a report by following 38 cases’ 42 trial and sued 202 defendant- 157 of which are journalists. It was stressed that in Speech Freedom cases in Turkey, defendants -especially journalists- are not judged fairly.
Fundamental indications are:
85% of the cases includes terrorism crimes. Leading accusation is “making propaganda for terrorist organizations”. Next accusation is -12 out of 42 case- “being a member of a terrorist organization”. Another common accusation is “Insulting the president” and “Insulting Turkishness”.
34 journalists out of 157 sued, jailed with pending trial because of these cases.
92% of the 37 jailed defendants were journalists.
18 journalist waited a trial in jail for more than a year. 9 of them were accused for terror-related crimes.
And 73% of the the indications derives from journalistic activities.
73% of the evidence, which used to justify jailed trials, compose of directly profession-related journalists’ articles, photographs, communication with the news source and social media sharings.
Court board negotiated decisions in front of the public and prosecutor ,when they had to discuss the privately. In the 47% of the cases, decisions didn’t made properly covered.
In the 13% of the cases, chief judge was changed of duty.
In the 13% of the ongoing cases, judge functioning as the chief was changed. And in the 10,5% of the cases, two judges from court board (chief judge and another member) was changed of duty.
For instance in Gezi Case Court Boards chief judge were replaced-by the high council of judges and prosecutors which its members directly assigned by president and council- after giving his opinion in favour of the defendants.
Using criminal codes to aim and silence opponent journalists, activist and academicians and restraining freedom of speech had some effects on society.
Source: tr724.com
