Army Sues Reporter Rahmi Yildirim

Reporter Rahmi Yildirim is being charged with "insulting the state's military forces," by writing an article titled, "Generals are protectors of the capital system, they are its ordinary soldiers, its actors and figure artists." The article was published on the Web site sansursuz.com .

Yildirim also faces up to three years in prison for another article titled, "The qualified one gets the job done."

The case was opened upon complaint by General Ilker Basbug on behalf of the Head of the General Staff. The reporter will stand trial on September 7 in an Ankara court.

A military complaint results in a trial

Yildirim, who still works as a freelance journalist, has testified in front of a court about his article on military and civilian state officials who were allegedly involved in malpractice.

Yildirim told the court that Turkey has to start tolerating criticism.

Lack of Legal Grounds in Second Complaint

A second investigation was opened against Yildirim after his article titled, "The qualified one gets the job done," was published in the "Sol" (Left) magazine. The Istanbul Prosecutor's Office decided there is lack of grounds for legal action since a case has already been opened against the writer for the same article in Ankara. (EO/EU/EA/YE)