Journalist Ahmet Altan is on trial for the statements he used in his article titled “Passing through”, published on the website “haberdar.com” on June 27, 2016.
The Istanbul 26th Assize Court found journalist/columnist Ahmet Altan guilty and decided on 3 years of imprisonment for “making propaganda for an armed terrorist organization” in its decision on 28 February 2018. It was stated that the Altan was trying to show “ditch-digging” actions as innocent acts, which were actually used by armed terrorist organization PKK in Mardin as a city war strategy. The court also decided that the journalist was guilty for “insulting the President of the Republic” on the grounds that he used statements that humiliated the President’s honor and dignity. He was sentenced to 2 years and 11 months of imprisonment.
Altan appealed to the decision of total 5 years and 11 months imprisonment. The Court of Appeal upheld the decision on January 3rd. The journalist is expected to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Appeals.