At the hearing held at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance, her lawyer Merve Turhan attended on behalf of the defendant Deniz Yücel. At the hearing, where the incoming documents were read, it was stated that the German government returned the legal aid (rogatory) documents. Yücel’s lawyer, Turhan, noted that his client had given a statement by rogatory before. Turhan, who requested that the document be sent again, said that the Berlin Embassy would accept the document this time.
HEALING DELAYED TO OCTOBER 17
The court ruled that the request for the reissue of the rogatory document was rejected, since the rogatory document was returned.
Since the defendant could not be reached at his address and therefore his defense could not be taken, the court decided to issue an arrest warrant for him and adjourned the hearing to 17 October.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CASE?
According to the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office Press Crimes Investigation Bureau, a criminal complaint was filed against Deniz Yücel regarding his statements in the German broadcasting company Die Welt, dated 26-27 October 2016, and that this person was subject to Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code. It is stated that an investigation has been launched for the crime of “insulting the Turkish nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, the institutions and organs of the state”.
In the indictment, where the Ministry of Justice General Directorate of Criminal Affairs gave permission for an investigation against Yücel on 13 March 2021, it is noted that the statements of this person in the articles he wrote in German on the Kurds on October 26, 2016 and the Armenians the next day are insulting to the Turkish nation and the Republic of Turkey. .
1 YEAR 2 MONTHS UP TO 4 YEARS 8 MONTHS PRISON REQUEST
The indictment demands that Deniz Yücel be sentenced to 6 months to 2 years in prison for “insulting the Turkish nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, the institutions and organs of the state”. The indictment prepared later on the charge of “publicly insulting the President” was also sent to the same court with a request for consolidation. For this crime, the accused is asked to be imprisoned from 1 year, 2 months to 4 years and 8 months.