Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) published the "Trial Monitoring Report", which includes freedom of expression and press freedom cases. The report contains data on investigations and censorship against journalists between 1 September 2023 and 20 July 2024. It was stated that 281 cases were monitored and 614 hearings were held between these dates. The report noted that a total of 1,856 people were put on trial, 46 per cent of whom were activists, 20 per cent were students and 19 per cent were journalists. The number of activists on trial was 860, students 376 and journalists 366. It was also stated that a total of 90 people, including academics, artists, lawyers and politicians, were indicted.

 

JUSTIFICATIONS OF THE CASES

 

In the report, information on the charges against the defendants was shared. It is stated in the report that 43 cases were filed for "making propaganda for an illegal organisation", 43 cases for "being an illegal organisation member" and 43 cases for "opposing the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations". It is also stated that 33 cases were filed for "insulting a public officer" and 32 cases were filed for "insulting the President". 187 people are on trial for "being an illegal organisation member" and 120 of them are journalists. 

 

The report said: “In the cases monitored during this period, journalists were tried on various charges, mainly 'terrorism' and 'insult'. 64.2 percent (120 people) of the 187 defendants charged with 'membership of an armed (terrorist) organisation' and 34.6 percent (56 people) of the 162 defendants charged with 'making propaganda for a terrorist organisation' were journalists. 37.6 percent (38 people) of the 101 defendants charged with 'insulting a public official for his/her duty' were journalists. Activists, including LGBTI+ individuals, people of different age groups, students, workers, human rights defenders, environmentalists, human rights defenders and activists from various occupational and identity groups, were mostly charged with 'opposition to Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations'. Activists constituted 63.1 percent (710 people) of the 1125 defendants on trial with this charge."

 

FREE PRESS

 

Pressures against Free Press workers were also included in the report. The report includes details of the detentions, arrests, house arrests and trials against Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporters Fırat Can Arslan, Esra Solin Dal, Delal Akyüz, Tolga Güney and Mehmet Aslan, MA editor Abdurrahman Gök, JINNEWS reporter Melike Aydın, journalists Mehmet Şah Oruç, Erdoğan Alayumat and Hamdullah Bayram. The report emphasised that Aydın, Güney and Akyüz are still under house arrest.

 

233 YEARS SENTENCE FOR 76 PEOPLE

 

Report said the following during the monitoring period: "Verdicts were announced in 108 out of 281 cases, in 74 of which 369 defendants were acquitted. However, in 28 cases, defendants were sentenced to 233 years, 4 months and 14 days in total. In addition, in 5 cases, 5 defendants were ordered to pay a total judicial fine of 88,000 TL. Again in this period, the defendants were ordered to pay a total of 37,500 TL in compensation in cases heard by the civil courts of first instance." 

 

‘NO RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION'

 

Report lastly stated: "As in previous reports, this year's findings show that many writings, peaceful protests, banners, tweets and social media posts, which do not constitute legal evidence, are considered as criminal offences, which constitute an obstacle for journalists, activists, lawyers and all citizens to exercise their right to freedom of expression and pose a threat to democracy... As in previous years, the 2024 report has once again demonstrated that urgent steps need to be taken towards the independence of the judiciary in Turkey and that it is essential to continue a determined struggle in this regard."

 

The report can be accessed from the following link : https://www.mlsaturkey.com/en/mlsa-2024-justice-monitoring-program-report-thinking-criminalized-detention-as-punishment