Defendants: Seyhan Avşar and Necdet Önemli 

Media Outlet and Position: Cumhuriyet and Sözcü Newspapers – Reporter and Managing Director

Accusations: Targeting a public official who participated in anti-terror operations

Possible sentences: up to 3 years

Court: İstanbul 29. High Criminal Court

Case background:

The first hearing of the trial in which Cumhuriyet newspaper reporter Seyhan Avşar and Sözcü newspaper’s managing director Necdet Önemli have been charged with “targeting a public official who took part in the fight against terrorism” for the news article titled “Prosecutor has a criminal record”, was held at the İstanbul 29. High Criminal Court.

The indictment against Seyhan Avşar and Necdet Önemli, was completed on 12 July 2019 by the Press Crimes Bureau of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The public prosecutor who Seyhan Avşar pointed out in his report was included in the indictment as a “victim”. 

Avşar reported on public prosecutor Asım Ekren’s conviction of ten months on the charge of taking advantage of the defendants in a child abuse case. Ekren initially filed a complaint against Avşar for defamation, however Istanbul chief public prosecutor’s office submitted an indictment against the journalist on “targeting a public official who participated in anti-terror operations”.

The first hearing took place on January 9, 2020, defense lawyers’ request for acquittal was rejected. Court adjourned the hearing until May 21, ruling Sözcü’s online editor Necdet Önemli to be heard as a witness in the next hearing and to wait for the file about the prosecutor in dispute to be submitted.

Due to suspension of all judicial proceedings from late March until June 15 because of COVID-19 pandemic, the May 21 hearing was postponed to October 9, 2020.