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Journalist Boğatekin Faces 10,000 TL Compensation Claim

Adana MP Dengir Mir Mehmet Fırat from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) filed a case against journalist Hacı Boğatekin, owner of the Gerger Fırat newspaper. Boğatekin is facing a 10,000 Turkish Lira (TL) compensation claim (approx. € 4,760).

AKP MP Fırat launched the trial on the grounds of an article entitled "Mercy Miro Mercy Piro" published on 20 September 2009. Fırat claims an "attack on his personal rights". Gerger Fırat newspaper has a circulation of a couple of hundred issues.

Three AKP lawyers filed the case on 29 December 2009 at the Gerger Criminal Court of First Instance on Duty. The first hearing of the case is scheduled for 13 May 2010.