Journalist acquitted of terrorism charges

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GÜREL

An Istanbul court yesterday acquitted journalist Ertuğrul Mavioğlu on the charge of “making propaganda for a terror organization” in relation to an interview he conducted with Murat Karayılan, a senior leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

“I acted under the idea of everyone being able to talk within the framework of the freedom of information so as to [help] end the war and enhance democracy,” Mavioğlu said in court. 

The court decided to acquit Mavioğlu on the grounds he bore no criminal intent, while Hasan Kılıç, the managing director of daily Radikal where the interview was published between Oct. 28 and 30, 2010, was also released. 

Mavioğlu demanded his release, arguing it would become apparent he was not forging propaganda if his whole professional career, the ideas he propagated and the entire context of the interview in question were to be taken into consideration. 

The interview created the impression that resorting to violence was necessary and justified, according to the indictment prepared by an Istanbul Deputy Chief Prosecutor’s Office, which ultimately led to Mavioğlu’s trial.