Bianet Journalists Testify to Prosecutor

Following complaints from Istanbul's intern chief police officer, bianet staff were ordered to appear before Istanbul media prosecutor to testify related to their coverage in July this year.

Sedat Selim Ay previously complaint that 23 journalists and staff from bianet insulted him through the media coverage related to his assignment as intern chief police officer.

Testifying journalists included Haluk Kalafat (editor in chief), Ekin Karaca, Çiçek Tahaoğlu (editors), Sibel Yalın Yerdeniz (contributing writer) and Samet Akten (intern reporter). Istanbul media prosecutor Nurten Altınok also ordered the testimony of Füsun Erdoğan, a jailed Bianet writer in Gebze prison.

"My clients made news coverage related to actuality in Turkey within the boundaries of press freedom," defendant advocate Meriç Eyüboğlu said, denying the plaintiff's claims of insult.

bianet journalist testified that, as a news website, they used their legal rights to communicate and inform the public related to public events using interviews and news articles. (ÇT)