In October 2007, the PKK attacked a military base in Dağlıca, southeast of Turkey, and later kidnapped 8 soldiers. Milliyet newspaper announced their release on 4 November. Now responsible editor Hasan Çakkalkurt has been sentenced to 1 year, 6 months and 22 days imprisonment for violating the secrecy of an investigation.

On 12 November 2007, Milliyet newspaper carried articles with the headlines “Arrest of eight kidnapped soldiers” and “They talked about the night of the battle”.

The Gendarmerie General Command had applied to the Van Gendarmerie Command Military Court in order to ban all print and broadcasting media from covering events related to the Dağlıca attack and kidnapping, citing the fact that the eight soldiers were being investigated.

In the attack, thirteen soldiers had been killed and 17 more wounded.

Prison sentence not converted, lawyers have appealed

The Bakırköy 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance decreed on 13 February this year that the articles published by the Milliyet newspaper represented a violation of the media ban. Under Article 283/1 of the Turkish Penal Code, responsible editor Çakkalkurt was sentenced. The initial sentence of one year was increased to 1 year, 10 months and 15 days because the offence was repeated in print. Because of the behaviour of the journalist at the hearings, the sentence was finally reduced to 1 year, 6 months and 22 days.

Lawyers for the newspaper have argued that the news item is of the same date as the Van military court’s decision to impose a media ban, and that thus no violation took place. They also spoke of the right of the people to be informed.

Because the prison sentence was over a year, it was not converted into a fine. The newspaper’s lawyers have appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeals.

Second punishment for Posta reporter Ahmet Cumalı

At the same court in Bakırköy, Posta photo-reporter Ahmet Cumalı has been sentenced for violating the private life of Derin Mermerci, a well-known woman in high-society, whom he took photos of at a fashion show. The sentence is still to be announced.

In a previous case, Cumalı had been sentenced to 1 year 3 months imprisonment for taking photos of singer Sezen Aksu in her bathing suit. The sentence, handed out by Bakırköy’s 16th Criminal Court of First Instance on 4 November 2008 under Article 134/2 of the Turkish Penal Code, had been deferred.

However, because Cumalı has been sentenced for the same offense within five years, he will face punishment for both cases. (EÖ/AG)