1 October 2024
Furkan Karabay, former editor of the news website Gerçek Gündem, was acquitted by the Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court.
Karabay had spent 11 days in pre-trial detention for reporting on corruption and bribery allegations in the case against Barış Saral of the Saral group. He was prosecuted over the article titled “Bribery fight in mafia case reflected in transcripts” and a social media post, facing charges of “targeting persons involved in counter-terrorism” (Anti-Terror Law Article 6/1) and “publicly insulting a public official due to their duty.”
At the hearing, his lawyer Enes Hikmet Ermaner argued: “The trial continues against the journalist who reported on the case, but no charges were brought against Barış Saral, who made the allegations. My client is being punished simply because no case could be filed against Barış Saral.”
Despite the prosecutor’s request for conviction, the court acquitted Karabay. The acquittal was unanimous for the “targeting” charge and by majority for the “insulting a public official” charge. The case will be taken to the Court of Appeal.