Over his article titled “Geo-Profiteering” (Jeo-Vurgun) published on www.bitlishaber.com news website on December 10, 2015, Bitlis Journalists’ Association Chair and Bitlis News Editor-in-Chief Sinan Aygül stood trial on charge of “insulting via the press” (as per the Article 125 of the Turkish Penal Code / TCK) and was sentenced to pay a judicial fine of 1,500 Turkish Lira (TRY) in damages, with the announcement of the verdict deferred.
On the grounds that the sentence given to Aygül as part of another trial was upheld, the Tatvan 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance held a hearing on November 10, 2021 and ruled that the related judicial fine should be put into effect (November 10).
On the grounds that he refused to pay the judicial fine of 1,500 TRY on “insult” charges, Aygül was arrested on September 13, 2022. He was released a day later as part of a COVID-19 leave (September 14).