On October 12, 2017, the 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance of İstanbul sentenced former editor for Özgürlükçü Demokrasi Harun Epli and former editor-in-chief of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, Ersin Çaksu to 5 months of imprisonment for “Degrading Turkish Nation, State of Turkish Republic, the Organs and Institutions of the State” due to the news article entitled “Çocuk Öldürme Operasyonu (Operation for killing the children) published on August 31, 2016. The prison sentence was deferred.