Defendants: Osman Akın

Media Outlet and Position: Yeni Yaşam newspaper – Managing editor

Accusations: Spreading terrorist propaganda

Possible sentence: –

Court: İstanbul 24. High Criminal Court

Case Background:

Osman Akın, the Managing Editor of Yeni Yaşam newspaper, faces charges of “terrorist propaganda” over newspaper’s articles.

The journalist was being prosecuted in two other cases on the charges of “publicly insulting the state, its military and security forces” and “successively disseminating terrorist propaganda”. In the case where he is charged with “successive terrorist propaganda”, Akın was sentenced to one year and three months in prison by Istanbul 28. High Criminal Court during the hearing on October 22, 2019. The verdict was suspended. The case on “insulting the state, its military and security forces” is ongoing with the next hearing on January 9, 2020.

In relation to the case at the Istanbul 24. High Criminal Court, during the hearing took place on January 14, 2020, the prosecutor submitted his final opinion requesting sentencing of Akın in prison for “terrorist propaganda”. Next hearing is on January 24.