former Managing Editor of the newspaper Osman Akın is standing trial due to a news report published in daily Yeni Yaşam in March 2019, entitled “Persecution of Prisoners from Afrin” (Afrinli Tutuklulara Zulüm).
At the final hearing on January 9, İstanbul 2nd Assize Criminal Court found journalist Osman Akın guilty for “publicly degrading the state of the Republic of Turkey and its military and security personnel” as per the Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Akın was sentenced with a 5-month imprisonment. The pronouncement of the verdict is suspended.
The 3rd hearing in the retrial of journalist Osman Akın on charge of “insulting the military and security organization of the state” was held at the İstanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 13 September 2024. The prosecutor repeated their final opinion and requested sentencing for the impugned crime. Akın’s lawyer Özcan Kılıç demanded the acquittal of his client. The trial was adjourned until 22 November for a verdict (September 13th).
22 November 2024
Osman Akın, the managing editor of Yeni Yaşam newspaper, was acquitted in a trial where he faced charges of “publicly denigrating the Republic of Turkey and its military or law enforcement agencies” over a report published in the newspaper.
The case was heard at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. Akın’s lawyer, Özcan Kılıç, cited Constitutional Court rulings in his request for acquittal. The court ruled in line with this defense and acquitted Akın. (22 November)
