Journalist Ali Çağatay's Lawyer Speaks Out: No Crime in Post

Journalist Ali Çağatay's lawyer, Aslı Kazan, stated that her client's post did not contain elements of the crime defined in Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code.The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into Ali Çağatay due to a post he made on his personal account. Ali Çağatay had commented on a news story about the kidnapping of Erhan Karaal, Deputy General Manager of İBB Kültür A.Ş.Kazan noted that the allegation against Çağatay was the crime of 'Disseminating Misleading Information to the Public', and emphasized that for this crime to occur, there must be a special intent to create anxiety, fear, or panic among the public.Kazan stated that sharing information with the public should be considered within the scope of journalism, and that a post made for journalistic purposes does not constitute a crime under Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code.Ali Çağatay is a well-known journalist who has been hosting a daily program since 2020. He has previously worked as a news director for major media outlets.