Can TV programmer and KarsiMahalleOrg website reporter Sezgin Kartal was stood trial at the 1st Criminal Court of First Instance of Hatay for allegedly “insulting the President of the Republic” as he has attended the press release held in Hatay in 2016 in order to protest the operations against HDP. In his defense, Kartal said, “I did not chant but the criticism against the President is obvious if we consider these slogans. The criticism still should not be taken as an insult”.
The trial was adjourned until 29 January 2020 (6 November).
At the hearing held on October 20, 2022, the prosecutor presented the opinion as to the accusations and demanded that Kartal be penalized. The court accepted the request of the complainant’s lawyer for intervening in the case. The next hearing will be held on November 22 (October 20).