BURSA - In the case where 4 HDP politicians and journalist Emrah Çaçan were tried again, they were sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison.

 

The decision hearing of the case, which started again after the acquittal decision given against 5 people, including Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Bursa former Provincial Co-Chairs Aynur Yılmaz and Mehmet Akbaş and journalist Emrah Çaçan was overturned, was held today at Bursa 8th High Criminal Court. Emrah Çaçan, Mahmut Akbaş, and former HDP Mudanya District Co-chair Halis Şanlı, who were accused of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization", were present at the hearing. Aynur Yılmaz and İsmail Hakkı Gökçe, one of the former managers of the party, did not attend the hearing.

 

THE ACCUSING OF FOLLOWING FOR NEWS STORIES 

 

Çaçan, who was accused of making press statements and digital media posts while he was working at Dicle News Agency (DİHA), which was closed by the Decree Law in 2016, stated that the claim that he was carrying a banner in a news article he followed did not reflect the truth. Çaçan said that he followed the statement as a journalist. Stating that he was accused of posting the news in DİHA on his digital media account, Çaçan drew attention that thoughts are not a crime and said: "The posts I share are within the scope of freedom of thought and expression."

 

The court sentenced 5 people to 1 year and 6 months in prison.