The “Karşı newspaper trial,” where 12 defendants, including its one-time editor in chief, Eren Erdem who is also the former MP of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), began at the 23th High Criminal Court in 2018.
A lawsuit has been filed against Erdem because of the works that he did as the Editor-in-Chief of the Karşı newspaper. Erdem faces 9.5 to 12 years of imprisonment for the offenses of “knowingly and willingly aiding an armed terrorist organization [FETÖ] as a non-member”, “disclosing an anonymous witness,” and “violating the privacy of the investigation.”
After the indictment was accepted by the court, Eren Erdem went to İstanbul Atatürk Airport on May 21, 2018 but was not able to depart because of the international travel ban imposed on him.
Erdem was arrested on June 29, 2018 and was held in the Silivri Prison.
The case continued at the İstanbul 23rd Heavy Penal Court on January 7, 2019. The İstanbul 23rd Heavy Penal Court gave a verdict of release for Erdem on January 7, 2019; however, upon the objection of the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the upper court, the İstanbul 24th Heavy Penal Court issued an arrest warrant for him.
Not being released from prison despite the verdict of release, Eren Erdem was arrested again by the İstanbul 24th Heavy Penal Court on January 8, 2019.
On March 1, the next hearing was held and the 23rd High Criminal Court ordered the continuation of Erdem’s detention on remand pending the appeal process. The 23rd High Criminal Court of Istanbul convicted Erdem, who has been jailed pending trial as part of the case since last summer and sentenced him to 4 years and 2 months of imprisonment. The court acquitted Erdem of “violating the confidentiality of an investigation” and “disclosing the identity of an anonymous witness” charges but ordered the continuation of Erdem’s detention on remand pending the appeal process (1 March).
After the first package of the Judicial Reform was published on the Official Gazette and enacted as law on October 17, 2019 Erdem’s lawyers applied to the court and requested the release of Erdem. Erdem has been behind bars in Silivri Prison for the past 489 days. The court has ruled for his release considering the time he has already served in prison.
The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office gave a verdict of release for Eren Erdem on October 31, 2019.
