Defendants: Çiğdem Toker

Media Outlet and Position: Cumhuriyet, Sözcü – Journalist

Accusations: Defamation

Possible sentence: Fine of 80 thousand lira for moral recompensation

Court:  Küçükçekmece 3. Civil Court

Case Background: 

The article titled “Service Report of IBB to Foundations” by Çiğdem Toker, the writer of Sözcü Newspaper, was published on 28 January 2019. Toker, in this article, shared the details of the report titled “Non-Governmental Organizations – School – Dormitory Activity Report” prepared by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB).

According to the report; Ensar Foundation, Turkey Youth and Education Services Foundation (TÜRGEV), Turkey Youth Foundation (TÜGVA), Turkey Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation) as known to be close to the government and even some of President Tayyip Erdogan’s relative, were supported by the Metropolitan Municipality through cash or service provision in 2018.

The trial started with the first hearing at the Istanbul Küçükçekmece 3. Civil Court on January 16, 2020. The parties did not request a mediator. They also refused to resolve the dispute. The parties also requested that the investigation phase be initiated in the compensation proceedings.

Due to suspension of all judicial proceedings from late March until June 15 because of COVID-19 pandemic, the June 15 hearing was postponed to September 24, 2020.

During the September 24 hearing,  the judge did not allow observers to enter the hall as part of the measures taken against the coronavirus pandemic. The court decided in its interim ruling to invite the witness whom the foundation wanted to listen to. It was decided to send the flash disk presented by the foundation to an expert for examination.

The court also ruled to request a copy of the report prepared by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and quoted by Toker in her article.

During the  fourth hearing on October 15, 2020, the founding manager of the complainant T3 Foundation was heard as a witness. The lawyers of Toker and Sözcü Newspaper stated that “the witness was not impartial”, and demanded his statements to be retracted.

The court granted parties additional time to submit written statements against the other parties’ testimony. The next hearing is scheduled to take place on February 18, 2021.