Defendants: Hakan Dirik, Erk Acarer

Media Outlet and Position: Cumhuriyet & BirGün newspapers – Reporters

Accusations: Defamation

Possible sentences: –

Court: İstanbul 2. Civil Court

Case Background: 

Hakan Dirik, İzmir correspondent for independent Cumhuriyet, and Erk Acarer, a reporter for BirGün newspaper, are being prosecuted on charges of “defamation” following the then Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdağ’s complaint about news articles.

Reports published in both media outlets were covering Turkey’s alleged export of raw material for “Sarin gas”, which is used as a chemical weapon to radical groups in Syria.

The court adjourned the trial to September 27, 2018, in order to wait for Acarer’s defense statement, who was in Germany during the second hearing on March 15, and to hear opposition CHP MP Eren Erdem as a witness.