Lawyer Erdal Dogan in "Insult" Trial

Lawyer Erdal Dogan, a joint plaintiff in the Hrant Dink murder case, is on trial for his comments on lawyer Fuat Turgut, defense lawyer for murder suspect Yasin Hayal. When the Dink murder trial began on 2 July, Turgut said to the murdered journalist's family, "How many Armenians there are here!", following which the two lawyers argued.

Now Dogan is on trial for remarks he made in the Aksam newspaper on 9 April 2007. In the article, entitled "The Big Brothers Use the Law Well", Dogan said: "What should be on trial is the targeting and threatening of Hrant Dink and the obstruction of a just trial; when a murder suspect works as a lawyer, that is when there is nothing left to say legally."

Based on these words, Fuat Turgut filed a criminal complaint against Dogan. A trial, in which 5,000 YTL compensation are demanded, was opened at Sariyer 2nd Criminal Court of Peace yesterday (4 December).

Dogan's lawyer Ercan Kanar argues that the court is not authorised to hear the case and that the Beyoglu Criminal Court of Peace should be in charge. The case was adjourned until 5 February 2008 in order to await a decision on who has jurisdiction. (EÖ/AG)