Turkish prosecutor seeks prison sentence for journo İsmail Saymaz

A Turkish prosecutor on Dec. 5 requested opposition journalist İsmail Saymaz’s imprisonment of up to three years, for “revealing the identity and targeting of public personnel on anti-terror duty.”

Tuesday December 05 2023 06:15 pm

Saymaz (L) on Dec. 5 attend the hearing.

Duvar English

A Turkish prosecutor on Dec. 5 stated that it would seek imprisonment of up to three years for oppositional journalist İsmail Saymaz due to his news article “revealing the identity and targeting of public personnel on anti-terror duty.”

The prosecution asked for the journalist’s acquittal for “insulting a public officer,” according to reporting by Demirören News Agency (DHA).

Judge Murat Bircan filed a criminal complaint against Saymaz for his April 2022 piece that exposed his wife, who resided during the Gezi Trial as being a confessor for the Gülenist network after the 2015 coup attempt.

The article included photographs of Istanbul Heavy Penal Court Judge Bircan.

The hearing took place on Dec. 5, where the prosecution presented its punishment request. Saymaz and his attorneys were also present for the hearing.

The prosecutor stated that Saymaz’s words were considered under freedom of expression, and did not constitute a basis for insult charges.

However, it said that the news article contained the name, photograph, and family information of the judge to target him for his role in the Gezi trial indictments.

The court postponed the hearing after the prosecution’s statement.