Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı requested police search of journalists' homes

It has been learned that Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, who was detained and subsequently released following allegations that a trustee would be appointed to the CHP, requested that the homes of journalists be raided.

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST TERKOĞLU AND PEHLİVAN

According to a report in Cumhuriyet; Kütahyalı filed separate criminal complaints against journalists Barış Terkoğlu and Barış Pehlivan with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

In the petition submitted to the prosecutor's office through his lawyer in recent days, Pehlivan and Terkoğlu's social media posts were characterized as "public insult," and it was requested that their homes be searched and their digital devices, such as computers and phones, be seized. The prosecutor's office launched an investigation upon this request.

HE REQUESTED THEIR HOMES BE RAIDED

Television commentator Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, who was detained and released following allegations that a trustee would be appointed to the CHP, requested that the homes of journalists be raided.

Television commentator Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı filed separate criminal complaints against journalists Barış Terkoğlu and Barış Pehlivan with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED

In the petition submitted to the prosecutor's office through his lawyer in recent days, Pehlivan and Terkoğlu's social media posts were characterized as "public insult," and it was requested that their homes be searched and their digital devices, such as computers and phones, be seized. The prosecutor's office launched an investigation upon this request.

The incident subject to the complaint stems from Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı's appearance in an interview on Halk TV.

In the petition filed by Kütahyalı's lawyer, it was stated that "the suspect's computers, mobile phones, and all other digital devices must be searched and seized," arguing that this process was the only way to obtain evidence. The criminal complaint alleged that Pehlivan and Terkoğlu committed the crime of "insult via informatics" and that there was a risk of flight/destruction of evidence.

The prosecutor's office was requested to issue a warrant to the relevant police unit for the identification and taking of the suspects' statements. The petition requested that a public lawsuit be filed against Pehlivan and Terkoğlu due to their social media posts.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The posts cited by Kütahyalı as the basis for his criminal complaint were criticisms by journalists Barış Pehlivan and Barış Terkoğlu regarding the Kütahyalı interview published on Halk TV's YouTube channel.

In his post that day, Pehlivan stated the following:

“I watched the Halk TV YouTube channel's interview with Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı. My views are summarized as follows:

1- A journalist meets with everyone. Even with terrorists, the mafia, or hitmen…

2- But journalism is a relationship of contact and distance.

3- Kütahyalı is one of the pillars of the current rot in Turkey within the media.

4- He is one of the voluntary, conscious, and organized supporters of the conspiracies in Turkey after 2007.

5- If he is a journalist, don't call me a journalist.”

Barış Terkoğlu quoted this post by Pehlivan and wrote the following sentences:

“I agree with dear @barispehlivan. I sign my name under it.

What makes the lived experience history is what one accumulates in their mind.

How happy it is that our memory is as strong as life itself.”

KÜTAHYALI'S REPRESENTATIVE REQUESTED 'AGGRAVATED PENALTY'

This post was evaluated in the criminal complaint as “public insult in a public environment.” In the petition, Kütahyalı's representative stated that these words could be seen by millions of people, argued that his client's “honor, dignity, and reputation were offended,” and requested that the penalty be aggravated.