Journalist Can Ataklı was put on trial at the İstanbul 22nd Criminal Court of First Instance on charge of “inciting the public to enmity and hatred or degrading” (as per the Turkish Penal Code / TCK Article 216) over his remarks about a veiled teacher offering distance education.
At the hearing held on July 6, 2022, Ataklı was not present in the courtroom while his lawyer as well as the lawyer of the Fraternity Association (Kardeşlik Derneği) attended the hearing. The lawyers of the Women and Democracy Association (KADEM) also followed the hearing. Can Ataklı’s lawyer said that his client’s statements were of critical nature and demanded his acquittal. The lawyer of the plaintiff requested that Ataklı be penalized.
The court first ruled that Ataklı should be sentenced to 11 months, 7 days in prison for “inciting the public to enmity and hatred”. Then, it has ruled that the prison sentence shall be converted to a judicial fine of 10,110 Turkish Lira (July 6).
