Faruk Eren, the Managing Editor of Gerçek Gündem, and Furkan Karabay, the editor of Gerçek Gündem, faced a lawsuit for “insulting a public official” (as per the Article 125 of the Turkish Penal Code / TCK). Karabay had reported on the appointments at the Antalya Courthouse, including İstanbul Deputy Public Prosecutors Zafer Koç and Yakup Ali Kahveci, in the news report titled “‘İstanbul’ detail in the ‘Antalya’ operation in the judiciary: What do the appointed prosecutors show?” (October 4).

At the hearing at the İstanbul 30th Criminal Court of First Instance, Eren and Karabay were sentenced to 2 years, 3 months in prison. The judge did not execute the provisions as to the suspension of the announcement of the verdict (October 13).

The second hearing of the case filed against Karabay on charges of “insult” (TCK 125) and “slander” (TCK 267) was held on 19 September 2023 at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. In his opinion on the merits, the prosecutor requested acquittal on the “slander” charge and punishment on the “insult” charge. The case was adjourned until January 18 (19 Eylül).

At the hearing at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance, was held on January 18, Karabay was acquitted of the “insult” charge and sentenced to 1 year and 15 days in prison for the “slander” charge (18 January).