Süleyman Soylu had filed a complaint: Prison sentence requested for Barış Terkoğlu

The indictment prepared against Cumhuriyet newspaper columnist Barış Terkoğlu due to a social media post that was moved to the judicial process has been completed. In the investigation launched upon the complaint of former Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, the prosecutor's office requested that journalist Terkoğlu be sentenced to prison.

In the indictment, it was assessed that Terkoğlu used expressions exceeding the limits of criticism towards a public official, and the allegation that he committed the crime of "publicly insulting a public official due to their duty" was included.

The prosecutor's office requested a prison sentence of up to 2 years and 4 months for Terkoğlu.

INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED WITH SOYLU'S COMPLAINT

It was stated that the investigation was launched upon the complaint of former Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu following a post made by Barış Terkoğlu from his social media account.

In the post in question, it was stated that Terkoğlu drew attention to the confession statement that led to the arrest of journalist Mehmet Akif Ersoy.

The case was opened with the indictment prepared as a result of the investigation conducted after the complaint.

PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE REQUESTS UP TO 2 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS IN PRISON

In the prepared indictment, the prosecutor's office requested that Terkoğlu be punished within the scope of "an act exceeding the limits of criticism of a public official."

In this context, a prison sentence of up to 2 years and 4 months was requested for the journalist.

If the case file is accepted, the trial will be held in Ankara.

DATE OF THE FIRST HEARING HAS BEEN SET

It has been learned that the first hearing of the case opened against Barış Terkoğlu will be held in Ankara on September 28.

The defenses and statements of the parties are expected to be taken at the hearing.

"I HAVE NO WORDS CONTAINING INSULTS IN THE VIDEO"

According to the report by Çağdaş Bayraktar from Cumhuriyet newspaper, Terkoğlu made evaluations regarding the indictment prepared against him.

Terkoğlu used the following expressions:

"I have no words containing insults in the video I am accused of. On the contrary, there is news presented in an objective manner. I reported which politicians' names the secret witness, who was the basis for the operation against the suspects including Ersoy, included in the record."

"I STATED THAT THIS SITUATION HAD NEWS VALUE"

Stating that he approached the secret witness statements with distance in his post, Terkoğlu made the following evaluation in the continuation of his statement:

"I also stated that it had news value that it was included in the record in this way. If even mentioning secret witness statements to this extent is a crime, then why do prosecutors take these statements, why do they make them a subject of accusation against people, and why can they be published in full detail when they are against opposition politicians?"

News Source: 12punto