A lawsuit was filed against journalist Caner Taşpınar over his book titled “Son-in-law: The Father-in-laws of Gulenists from the AKP” (Damat: Fethullahçıların AKP’li Kayınpederleri). Put on trial for allegedly insulting former Parliamentary Speaker İsmail Kahraman and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Ankara MP Ali İhsan Arslan, Caner Taşpınar will have his first hearing at the İstanbul 11th Criminal Court of First Instance on February 9, 2021.

At the first hearing held on February 9, the court board accepted the complainants’ request for participation in the proceedings due to the possibility that they had been affected by the crime. The board also ruled that the case file should be sent to the prosecutor’s office for the preparation of the opinion as to the accusations. The next hearing will be held on July 1 (February 9).

At the hearing held on July 1, 2021, the newly appointed prosecutor of the court demanded additional time to examine the file and to prepare the opinion as to the accusations. The next hearing will be held on October 27 (July 1).

At the hearing on October 27, 2021, the court board indicated that the opinion as to the accusations was not prepared as the prosecutor changed. The next hearing will be held on January 6, 2022 (October 27).

At the hearing held on January 6, 2022, the prosecutor pronounced the opinion as to the accusations. Noting that the accounts in the book did not constitute the crime of “insult”, the prosecutor demanded Caner Taşpınar’s acquittal. The court board accepted the involving attorneys’ request for additional time to present a statement as to the accusations. The next hearing will be held on January 25 (January 6). 

The hearing scheduled for January 25 was adjourned until February 15 due to adverse weather conditions (January 25).

At the hearing held on February 15, 2022, the court board concluded that the elements of the charged offense in the law were not constituted and ruled that Caner Taşpınar should be acquitted (February 15).