Defendants: Murat Güreş, Furkan Gökşen, Metin Aybey

Media Outlet and Position: Ayıntap Newspaper, Detail Haber news site – Columnist, Journalists

Accusations: Violation of confidentiality of an investigation

Possible sentence: 1 up 3 years

Court: Gaziantep 9. Civil Court

Case Background: 

Murat Güreş, a columnist for the local newspaper Ayıntap in Gaziantep, was detained on August 2, 2017 along with Furkan Gökşen, editor-in-chief of Detail Haber news site, and imprisoned pending trial on a charge of “violating the confidentiality of an investigation”. The case reportedly stems from the publication of a testimony of a local construction company owner, who was under arrest in relation to an investigation that authorities call the “FETÖ/PDY terrorist group” network in Gaziantep. Journalists had deleted their reporting on the case later as per the  confidentiality order. However, prosecutors filed a lawsuit against journalists on the above-mentioned charges.

Güreş and Gökşen were released on bail on August 15, 2017.

During the hearing on April 19, 2018, the judicial control decision on defendants Güreş and Aybey were lifted.

During a hearing on February 19, 2019, Güreş’s lawyers claimed the ruling be declared void, saying that reporting in public interest cannot be criminalized. The court ruled to adjourn the next hearing until June 20, 2019, in order for missing documents to be submitted.

During July 2 hearing, Güreş’s lawyers argued that the investigation was not halted, nor endangered because of his publication. The trial will continue on November 11, 2019.