The Court of Cassation issued the acquittal of journalist Idris Yılmaz, who was sentenced to imprisonment due to covering the news of the violence against a student by the guards.
A lawsuit had been filed against Yılmaz due to “slander through press” with the coverage of the visuals on guards applying violence against a child in Erciş district of Van. Erciş 1st Criminal Court of First Instance sentenced Yılmaz to 1 year and three months of imprisonment in the case. Following the application at the Court of Cassation, 7th Criminal Chamber of Erzurum Regional Court decided that the legal elements of the offense of slander were not constituted and that the news must be evaluated within press freedom.
Yılmaz was on trial due to “illegal organization membership” due to his news coverage and was sentenced to 6 years and three months of imprisonment in January. He is arrested at Elazığ High Security Prison No. 1 since January 22, 2018.
07.02.2019
gazetekarinca.com