Up to 3 years in prison sought for Can Ataklı: Inciting the public to hatred and hostility

The prosecutor's opinion has been presented in the trial where journalist Can Ataklı is being tried for "inciting the public to hatred and hostility or insulting." Ataklı did not attend the hearing held at the Istanbul 5th Criminal Court of First Instance, but his lawyer was present in court.

'SHOULD BE EVALUATED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF PRESS FREEDOM'

Taking the floor at the hearing, Ataklı's lawyer Rabia Bayram stated that the individuals her client criticized in the video in question were those who held microphones to martyrs' families. Bayram emphasized that Ataklı's statements should be evaluated within the framework of press freedom and, stating that the legal elements of the crime were not met, requested her client's acquittal.

'REQUEST FOR 1 TO 3 YEARS IN PRISON'

Presenting the prosecutor's opinion at the hearing, the Public Prosecutor stated that the words used by Ataklı were provocative and of a nature to lead a segment of the public toward hatred, hostility, and discrimination. The prosecutor requested that Ataklı be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison for the crime of "inciting the public to hatred and hostility or insulting."

Ataklı's lawyer, Rabia Bayram, requested additional time to prepare a defense against the prosecutor's opinion. The court accepted this request, deciding to grant the parties time to prepare their defense against the opinion and to adjourn the hearing.

The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office states that an investigation was launched due to the expressions Ataklı used in a video shared on his social media accounts regarding the father of a soldier who fell as a martyr in the Operation Claw-Lock region.

News Source: 12punto