This event has passed.

Kemal Demir, Kemal Karagöz

December 16, 2021

Defendants: Kemal Demir, Kemal Karagöz

Media Outlet and Position: TV10 – Cameraman and staff

Accusations: Membership of a terrorist organization; Aiding a terrorist organization

Possible sentence: –

Court: İstanbul 28. High Criminal Court

Case Background:

Now shut-down, Alawite TV10’s cameraman Kemal Demir and staff member Kemal Karagöz were arrested on November 25, 2017. Karagöz was released on parole on December 1, 2017,

Demir, however, was sent to Istanbul’s Silivri Prison. His charge sheet was not brought to court for over six months, until his first hearing on July 3, 2018. After spending over a year in prison, Demir was released in February 2019, though he remains on parole and is barred from leaving the country.

During the second hearing on May 2, the court requested digital material to be examined, rejecting defense lawyers’ request to lift travel ban on reporters. TV10 staff were excused from physically attending next hearings. Trial was adjourned until September 10.

During the hearing on September 10, the representatives of IPI and Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), who were present to monitor the trial, were denied entry to the courtroom by the head judge. Similarly, other observers and the press have not been allowed to attend the hearing although the official records noted that an open hearing took place. The written records noted that there were no audience at the hearing other than the defendant Kemal Demir and his lawyer.

The court ruled to forcibly bring one of the witnesses in the case to the next hearing and ruled to remain the travel ban on defendants. Next hearing is scheduled for November 14.

During the fourth hearing on November 14, the court ruled for the international travel ban to remain in force and adjourned the trial until January 28, 2020.

The next hearing adjourned to May 14.

Due to suspension of all judicial proceedings from late March until June 15 because of COVID-19 pandemic, the May 14 hearing was postponed to October 13, 2020. Demir did not attend the hearing on October 13, but Karagöz was present in the courtroom. The court rejected the request of Demir’s lawyers to lift the travel ban and Demir’s lawyer adjourned to January 26, 2021.

During the hearing on January 26, 2021, the court decided to wait until the arrest warrant against another defendant in the case to be executed and ruled for the continuation of the international travel ban imposed on other defendants.

During the hearing on April 20, 2021, Demir and Karagöz were represented by their lawyers in the courtroom.

The court ruled to wait for the arrest warrant issued against another defendant in the case to be executed and rejected lawyers’ request for international travel ban on journalists to be lifted. The next hearing was scheduled for September 9, 2021.