MEDIA MONITORING DATABASE
Rüstem Batum – trial for “insulting the President of the Republic”
RELATED PERSON OR INSTITUTION
Rüstem Batum
CITY
İstanbul
YEAR OF INTERFERENCE
2020
LAST UPDATED
23/11/2023
TYPE OF STATEMENT
Political
MEDIUM
Internet
Social Media Account
THE TITLE OF WHOSE RIGHT IS INTERFERED
Journalist
RIGHTS GUARANTEED UNDER THE RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Right to Impart Information and Ideas
TYPE OF INTERFERENCE
Judicial Interference
Criminal Courts
Approval of the indictment and initiating the prosecution
THE LEGAL GROUNDS FOR INTERFERENCE
Turkish Penal Code
Art. 299

A lawsuit was filed against journalist Rüstem Batum over 20 Twitter posts that he had shared from 2016 to 2018. The journalist was charged with “insulting the President of the Republic” and “inciting the public to hatred and enmity” in the trial held by the İstanbul 5th Criminal Court of First Instance.

At the third hearing of the trial, it was requested that journalist Batum, who was living abroad, testify at the court in the region where he was living and his testimony (rogatory) be sent to the local court where he was put on trial in Turkey. The court board has ruled that the execution of the warrant against Batum shall be awaited and the request for rogatory shall be evaluated between the hearings. The next hearing will be held on February 25, 2021 (November 5).

At the hearing held on February 25, attorney Erselan Aktan indicated that his client Rüstem Batum, living abroad, could not come to Turkey due to coronavirus measures and requested that his statement be taken via letters rogatory. The court board adjourned the hearing to discuss the request for rogatory. The next hearing will be held on May 4 (February 25).

At the hearing held on January 20, 2022, the court ruled that the execution of the warrant against Batum, who lives abroad, should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on March 29 (January 20). 

At the hearing held on March 29, 2022, the court board ruled that the execution of the warrant against journalist Batum should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on June 14 (March 29).

At the hearing held on June 14, 2022, Batum’s lawyer requested that the deficiencies in the file be rectified. The court ruled that the execution of the warrant issued against Batum should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on November 10 (June 14).

At the hearing held on November 10, 2022, the court ruled that the execution of the warrant issued against Batum should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on February 28, 2023 (November 10).

At the 12th hearing of the trial on November 23, the court ruled to await the execution of the arrest warrant against Batum. The next hearing is scheduled for March 21, 2024 (November 23).