ECtHR Condemns Turkey in Case of Aram Publishing House

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Fatih Taş had gone to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) concerning the lawsuits brought against three books published by the Aram Publishing House.

The ECtHR announced its verdict today (April 24) and ruled that Turkey violated freedom of expression, right to an effective remedy and right to fair trial.

Fatih Taş will be paid immaterial compensation of 7 thousand euros and material compensation of 1,000 euros.

He was found guilty over “illegal organization propaganda”

Living in İstanbul, Fatih Taş was prosecuted due to three books they published as Taş was the owner and editor-in-chief of the Aram Publishing House.

Taş was sentenced to 5 months in prison and fined of 285 TL on charge of “propagandizing for an illegal organization” in the case that concluded in 2017 by İstanbul 9th Heavy Penal Court.

The verdict was upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeals 9th Penal Chamber in July 2009 following the appeal.

Taş’s lawyers applied to the heavy penal court for the execution to be suspended and stated that the criminal sanction to be imposed for the owners of media outlets is limited to penalty fine. As the objections continue, the case dropped in April 2011 due to lapse of time, Taş didn’t go to prison.

In the second incident, Taş was sentenced to 20 months in prison and fined of 8 YTL in a lawsuit brought for another book. This case dropped as well in 2012 due to lapse of time.

He had received sentence by the same charge

Fatih Taş was prosecuted and convicted in 2002 and 2003 because of some other books.

Even though the cases dropped due to lapse of time, Taş applied to the ECtHR for having been found guilty.

The ECtHR announced its verdict today and ruled that Turkey violated freedom of expression, right to an effective remedy and right to fair trial.

Fatih Taş will be paid immaterial compensation of 7 thousand euros and material compensation of 1,000 euros. (AS/TK)