Turkey charges journalist and attorney for publicly insulting a public officer and institutions


nsnbc : In yet another crackdown o internationally guaranteed human rights, a “libel” lawsuit has been filed against journalist Ismail Kücükkayaand attorney Fidel Okan, on charges of “publicly insulting a public officer” and “publicly insulting institutions and bodies of Republic of Turkey”. Küçükkaya and Okan face from 18 months to 5 years in prison each, in a trial that violates fundamental human rights.

journalist İsmail Küçükkaya and attorney Fidel Okan_Libel case_Turkey_Nov 2017The office the Chief Public Prosecutor of Bakirköy had begun investigating Küçükkaya and Okan on the ground of their remarks on the Minister Sayan Kaya and her husband. The prosecutor opened the investigation upon criminal complaint by the Minister of Family and Social Policies Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya, Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had begun investigating.

Fox News Host İsmail Kücükkaya reported that he learned from his news sources in Turkey’s capital city of Ankara, that the husband of a certain Minister had been using ByLock, an encrypted communication software allegedly used among the members of the Gülen community and claimed that the Minister and her husband had decided to divorce.

The report prompted rumors to spread on social media that the minister Küçükkaya talked about, was Minister of Family and Social Policies Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya. Sayan-Kaya denied the claims.

Journalist Küçükkaya later apologized on his programme for his remarks on the “divorce decision” but repeated that he stood behind his report, that the minister’s husband has used ByLock.

The case demonstrates yet another violation of internationally guaranteed human rights in Turkey. One may want to discuss the professionalism of the journalist who retracted part of a statement, or one may discuss his professional ethics.

However, the United Nations Human Rights Committee is clear and unambiguous with regard to these problems. Speech that is considered insulting, even speech that insults those in position of power, should never be the basis of a criminal prosecution.

CH/L – nsnbc 03.11.2017



Source Article from https://nsnbc.me/2017/11/03/turkey-charges-journalist-and-attorney-for-publicly-insulting-a-public-officer-and-institutions/

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