Journalist Cengiz Çandar was put on trial at the İstanbul 30th High Criminal Court of First Instance on the grounds that he “praised the crime and criminal” by posting a message about Ayşe Deniz Karacagil, who was known as “the girl with the red scarf” during Gezi resistance of 2013 and killed by ISIS in Rojava, on May 30, 2017.

At the hearing held on January 19, 2021, the court board accepted the request of the prosecutor and ruled that the statement of the journalist should be taken via letters rogatory. A warrant was also issued to take his statement in the event that Çandar comes to Turkey. The next hearing will be held on April 15 (January 19).

At the hearing held on April 15, the court lifted the warrant against Çandar and ruled that the letters rogatory should remain in effect. The next hearing will be held on September 23, 2021 (April 15).

At the hearing held on September 23, 2021, the court board ruled that the letters rogatory should be awaited. The trial has been adjourned until a later date (September 23).

At the hearing held on February 8, 2022, the court board ruled that the reply to the letters rogatory should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on April 19 (February 8).

Upon the request of Çandar’s lawyers, the court ruled on April 19, 2022 that the return of the letters rogatory should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on June 16 (April 19).

At the hearing held on June 16, Çandar’s lawyer requested that the completion of the rogatory proceedings be awaited. The court decided to wait for Çandar’s statement to be taken by rogatory letter. The next hearing will be held on September 29 (June 16).

At the hearing held on September 29, 2022, Çandar’s lawyer requested his client’s acquittal. The prosecutor demanded the rejection of the request on the grounds that the conditions for an immediate acquittal did not arise. The court rejected the request for immediate acquittal and ruled that the documents as to the letters rogatory should be completed. The next hearing will be held on November 22 (September 29).

At the hearing held on November 22, 2022, the judge gave time to Işıktaş and his lawyer so that they would prepare their defense as to the accusations and adjourned the hearing. The court also ruled that Çandar’s file should be registered with a new file number and the date of the hearing should be notified to his lawyers. The next hearing will be held on December 13 (November 22).