A lawsuit was filed against Evrensel Managing Editor Görkem Kınacı over a news report; he was charged with “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” as per the Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

The first hearing of the case will be held at the Bakırköy 21st Criminal Court of First Instance on December 22, 2022. 

The lawsuit was filed against Kınacı due to his news report “Racist attack in Sakarya: Father died, son in treatment” that was published on December 23, 2018; he was charged with “inciting the public to hatred and hostility”. Three decisions of non-jurisdiction were previously given in the case; the court authorized to hear the case was determined as the Bakırköy 21st Criminal Court of First Instance (December 15). 

At the first hearing held on December 22, 2022, the court ruled that a writ should be addressed to the Sakarya 1st High Criminal Court, which heard the murder case covered in the related news report, and the file of the case should be requested. The court also ruled that another writ should be written to Evrensel newspaper to find out whether the news report in question had been published in the print newspaper or not. The next hearing will be held on April 4, 2023 (December 22).

In the second hearing held on April 4, the opinion as to the accusations was submitted by the prosecutor. The opinion stated that the news report is in the scope of the limits of freedom of expression,  that there were no elements of crime present, and requested that the court rule for acquittal. The court acquitted Kınacı.