An investigation was launched against Onur Emre Yağan, the former Editor-in-Chief of İleri Haber news website, over four tweets posted from the official Twitter account of İleri Haber in 2014-2015; charging the journalist with “insulting the President of the Republic”, the bill of indictment was completed in 2019.
The first hearing of the trial was to be held at the İstanbul Anadolu 53rd Criminal Court of First Instance on March 26, 2020; however, both this hearing and the second hearing scheduled for September 10 were adjourned till October 22, 2020 as part of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) measures. The attorneys of Yağan stated that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan withdrew his complaint (September 10).
At the third hearing held on October 22, the prosecutor announced the opinion as to the accusations and demanded that Onur Emre Yağan be penalized on charge of “insulting the President of the Republic.” The court has given additional time to Yağan and his attorneys to prepare their defense as to the accusations and has ruled that the next hearing shall be held on November 5 (October 22).
At the final hearing held on November 5, 2020, Yağan has been sentenced to 1 year, 2 months, 17 days in prison on charge of “insulting the President of the Republic.” The pronouncement of the judgement has been deferred (November 5).
