Istanbul, May 17, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes a Turkish court’s sentencing of seven people involved in the April 8, 2022 raid on Deniz Postası’s broadcast studio in the central Province of Kayseri, during which attackers beat journalist Azim Deniz and his guest, local businessman and politician Sedat Kılınç.
At least 50 people raided the studio, led by suspected members of a local branch of the Turkish nationalist group Ülkü Ocakları (Gray Wolves), according to reports.
On May 10, the 1st Kayseri High Criminal Court. sentenced seven defendants involved in the incident to 11 years and 4 months in prison each on numerous charges, including “causing simple bodily harm” and “depriving someone from his freedom by force”, according to news reports. All defendants remained free pending appeal, Deniz told CPJ via phone.
“The sentencing of some of the perpetrators of the raid on Deniz Postası’s broadcast studio is a welcome step in the right direction to fight violence impunity against Turkey’s media,” said Özgür Öğret, CPJ’s Turkey representative. “Turkish authorities should continue investigating the attack to identify and hold all those involved to account and ensure that members of the media are safe from such attacks.”
Deniz told CPJ that several other people allegedly involved in the attack were not charged by authorities, and he is considering appealing the verdict.
Deniz and his lawyers also said they believe that the sentences could have been higher. The court acquitted the defendants of the charge of “violating the right to the freedom of communication,” which carries up to 3 years in prison, because the attack happened minutes before the beginning of the broadcast instead of during it, Deniz said. He also noted that the defendants also received reduced sentences for good behavior in court.
But he also welcomed the ruling as a warning to others who would attack media offices. “The perception of impunity was broken, at the very least,” he said.
CPJ sent questions about the case to a lawyer for the defendants over messaging app but did not receive any reply by publication. CPJ also emailed the Chief Prosecutor’s Office in Kayseri for comment but didn’t receive a reply.
In a separate incident on February 5, 2024, Deniz was shot near his home in the central city of Kayseri. The shooter, who was quickly apprehended by the police, claimed that he acted on his own accord, but Deniz said that he believes there was an instigator in the attack.