12 November 2023
The İstanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance sentenced BirGün columnist Gözde Bedeloğlu to a judicial fine of 7,080 Turkish Lira on charges of “insulting a public official” (Article 125/3-a of the Turkish Penal Code) over her article “Those who have protected the state from past to present”, published on 9 April 2023.
The case was launched upon a complaint by MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) MP Sermet Atay, who claimed that the column contained insults against him. On 22 February 2023, the prosecutor reiterated their final opinion, requesting Bedeloğlu’s conviction.
Bedeloğlu’s lawyer, Tolgay Güvercin, argued that the article “did not aim to report news, did not contain any concrete accusations, and represented personal opinions in the form of a column, which should fall under the scope of criticism and freedom of expression.”
The court sentenced Bedeloğlu to a fine and ruled for the suspension of the pronouncement of the verdict (HAGB).
