Over his news about the appointed rector of Boğaziçi University Naci İnci, who reported his students to the prosecutor’s office, Gerçek Gündem reporter Fırat Fıstık is facing an investigation launched by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on charges of “illegally obtaining and disseminating personal data” and “libel”. The journalist has been summoned to give his statement about the offenses charged (October 22).
The investigation turned into a lawsuit.
At the hearing held by the İstanbul 46th Criminal Court of First Instance on December 9, 2022, journalist Fıstık made his defense, saying, “I do journalism. I did not share the plaintiff’s personal information or information as to his identity or address in the news content. My news story was related to my journalistic activity. I request my acquittal for this reason.”
The court ruled that the request of the lawyer of the complainant for participating in the trial should be accepted and the result of the instruction letter written in the name of Ozan Buz should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on March 15, 2023.
The journalists were indicted on April 27, 2022 due to their news report “Boğaziçi University rector Naci İnci reported students to the police: Students arrested” on October 6, 2021. An access block was imposed on the news report as well (December 9).
