Turkish court orders journalist Yıldız to compensate Defense Minister over reporting deemed 'insulting'
An Ankara court on Sept. 10 ordered OdaTV journalist Müyesser Yıldız to pay 20,000 Turkish Liras in compensation to Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on the grounds of “insulting” him, after she cited a secret witness in a trial related to the coup attempt who said Akar a was a member of the Gülen movement, T24 reported.
Duvar English
A compensation case between OdaTV journalist Müyesser Yıldız and Defense Minister Hulusi Akar resumed on Sept. 10 at the Ankara 7th Civil Court of First Instance.
The case comprises a lawsuit initially filed by Akar against Yıldız and a counter lawsuit filed by Yıldız in response to Akar’s claim.
Yıldız was facing charges of “insulting” Akar after she cited a secret witness in a trial related to the coup attempt who said Akar a was a member of the Gülen movement.
Akar was seeking a compensation of 250,000 Turkish Liras ($33,460), whereas Yıldız was seeking a symbolic compensation of 5 liras (67 cents).
The court on Sept. 10 ordered Yıldız to pay 20,000 Turkish Liras ($2,670) in compensation to Akar, T24 reported. The same court however turned down Yıldız's request for compensation.
Yıldızhas been behind bars since June in a separate case concerningaccusations that sherevealed state secrets in two articles about Ankara’s militaryinvolvement in Libya.
One article published in December questioned which Turkish commanders met Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the Libyan National Army, while the second article published in January gave details about a military officer who was sent to Libya to oversee Turkey’s involvement there.