TELE1 Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardağ, in the 4 Questions 4 Answers program broadcast on TELE 1 channel on June 26, said “crime and violence” at the end of the program due to the words he used to imply that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) was preparing a new solution process with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. He was detained on charges of “praising the criminal” and “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” (26 June)

Yanardağ, whose statement was taken at the prosecutor’s office, was arrested by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace on Duty for “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” (27 June).

The indictment prepared against Merdan Yanardağ was rejected by the Istanbul 30th High Criminal Court. In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, it was requested that Yanardağ be punished under Articles 7/2-1, 7/2-2 of the TMK No. 3713 and Articles 215/1, 218/1 of the TCK No. 5237. Istanbul 30th High Criminal Court did not accept the prosecution’s indictment (July 11).

At the hearing held on October 4, the prosecutor accused Yanardağ of “propagandizing for a terrorist organization” and demanded punishment. Yanardağ and his lawyers defended against the opinion on the merits.

Yanardağ: “Democracies are regimes where criminals also have rights. The prosecution office demands that Turkey evolve into a totalitarian regime. This is what is understood from the opinion. If there is no justice, there will be no peace in a country. I think that the prosecutor’s office should act with this responsibility. Journalistic activity is prosecuted here. An attempt is made to create a virtual crime. “With the logic of the Nazi courts, crimes are produced by looking at the perpetrator, not the act,” he said.

Announcing its decision after the last words, the court sentenced Yanardağ to 2 years and 6 months in prison on the charge of “propagandizing for a terrorist organization”. The court ruled that the crime was proven and increased the sentence by half because Yanardağ made the statement on television. With the decision, the court decided to release Yanardağ (October 4).