Decision reached regarding Merdan Yanardağ: It happened by mistake

The investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding a statement in the subtitles of the program "Türkiye'nin Yönü" (Turkey's Direction), broadcast on Tele1 on September 21, in which President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was compared to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is ongoing.

The suspects Merdan Yanardağ, Ali İhsan Demir, and Musa Özuğurlu, who were summoned to give statements as part of the investigation, were questioned at the prosecutor's office. Following their statements, the prosecutor's office referred the suspects to the duty magistrate with a request for judicial control measures.

The criminal judgeship of peace decided to release the 3 suspects under judicial control measures consisting of a "travel ban" and "signing in" requirements.

In the referral document from the prosecutor's office, it was stated that Responsible Manager Ali İhsan Demir and Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardağ declared in their statements that they were not at the station during the broadcast, that the incident occurred by mistake, and that they had nevertheless issued an apology text out of regret.

NO INTENT FOUND

The document further noted that broadcast moderator Musa Özuğurlu stated in his testimony that the action stemmed from the production staff incorrectly transcribing a sentence spoken on air into the subtitles, and that there was no intent, while also reporting that it was assessed that the suspects bear criminal liability.

The document stated that the expression shared during the broadcast falls under the crime of "insulting the President" and that sufficient suspicion has been formed that the crime was committed.

However, the document noted that, considering the current stage of the investigation where evidence has largely been collected and that detention is a precautionary measure, it was concluded that the purpose expected from detention could be achieved through judicial control provisions, and that judicial control measures were deemed proportionate at this stage.

News Source: İHA