Acquittal for Özgür Mumcu in Trial for ‘Defaming President’

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Cumhuriyet daily columnist Özgür Mumcu has been acquitted from charges of “defaming the president” in his column titled “cruel and coward”.

Cumhuriyet daily reporter Canan Coşkun has announced the acquittal decision.

The verdict has included the expression “within the scope of the form, content and wording [...] of the article presuming that the defendant has been expressing his value judgement”.

4 years and 8 months in prison demanded

Upon complaint of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s attorney Ahmet Özel, an investigation had been launched into Mumcu in April 2015 before İstanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.

The petition of complaint had stated “The unfair and delusive accusations and slanders against my client are totally intentional [...]. By such, my client is being exposed to grudge and hatred of the society”.

In the trial, prison sentence from 1 year and 2 months to 4 years and 8 months had been  demanded for Mumcu accused of “defaming the President”.

In his column subjected to trial, Mumcu had written “A well-known old rule.The cruel are cowards. So coward to sue the mother of Abdullah Cömert”. (EA/DG)