A lawsuit for damages was filed by Turkey’s state channel TRT against journalist Ali Ergin Demirhan over his news report published by sendika.org on July 8, 2021 with the title “TRT honors them: They receive a plaque from the HTS [Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham]”. However, the İstanbul 8th Civil Court of First Instance dismissed the case.
Following the appeal of the TRT, the 4th Civil Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice argued that the news report was contrary to facts and overturned the local court ruling. Demirhan was sentenced to pay 20 thousand TRY in damages.
sendika.org news website reported that the damages were sent in the bailiffs as soon as the ruling was handed down and the amount to be paid came to account for 30 thousand lira, including the lawyers’ fee and accrued interest (April 13).