The acquittal of journalist Selda Manduz was overturned by the Regional Administrative Court upon the objection.
A lawsuit was filed against journalist Selda Manduz at the Kars 2nd High Criminal Court for allegedly making “terrorist propaganda”. In the trial, where the news that Manduz shared on his virtual media accounts were made the subject of accusations, he was acquitted because “the legal elements of the written crime were not formed”. Objecting to the acquittal decision, the prosecutor’s office moved the file to the Regional Court of Justice. Erzurum 2nd Penal Chamber accepted the objection and decided to retrial Manduz.
The court cited the photo used in Manduz’s virtual media account and the photo used in the article titled “Historical moment of the Neo-Ottoman dream and the Northern Syrian Federation” published in Gazete Karinca on January 24, 2017. Considering the presence of 2 people thought to be YPG and YPJ members on the photograph as a definite criminal element, the court argued that a verdict of conviction should be given contrary to the acquittal decision of the local court. Journalist Manduz’s trial will begin on February 8, 2022, at the Kars 2nd High Criminal Court.
Source: Mesopotamia News Agency
Translator: Mehmet Akif Coşkun
(SG)
