Turkish court releases journalist Sedef Kabaş from jail

A Turkish court on March 11 released journalist Sedef Kabaş at the first hearing of the case in which she was standing trial over charges of "insulting" President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The court sentenced Kabaş to two years and four months in prison over the said charges.

Friday March 11 2022 12:53 pm

Duvar English

A Turkish court has ordered the release of journalist Sedef Kabaş who was jailed on Jan. 22 on charges of "insulting" President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The first hearing of the case took place on March 11 at the Istanbul 36th Criminal Court of First Instance.

The court handed down a sentence of two years and four months in prison to Kabaş on charges of "insulting the President," and released her from jail.

The court acquitted the journalist of the charges of "insulting" Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Transportation Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu.

During the hearing, Kabaş told the judges: "I will continue to tell the truth despite the experiences the current rulership is making me and us go through. I came to Turkey on my own will after the trainings I received abroad. There is not a single case launched against me."

Kabaş was jailed pending trial over a proverb she cited during a political discussion on opposition TV channel Tele 1 and repeated on Twitter, which Erdoğan's communications head and the justice minister condemned as a swipe at the president.

The prosecutors were seeking a jail term of up to eight years and two months for Kabaş for "insulting the President," whereas a combined jail term of up to 12 years and 10 months for "insulting" ministers Soylu and Karaismailoğlu.