Şefik: The Best Approach for Defamation Cases is Civil Lawsuits with Compensation Claims

During her appearance on the Genç TV program "Er Meydanı," Narin Ferdi Şefik discussed the increasing involvement of public officials in criminal activities and emphasized the importance of meritocracy in appointing individuals to such positions.

When addressing issues related to freedom of the press and freedom of expression, Şefik stated that if there are complaints involving defamation, the best course of action, in her opinion, is to file civil lawsuits seeking compensation.

She also shared a personal anecdote, explaining that when she was the subject of defamatory content, she had requested the identification and a conversation with the individual responsible. If not convinced, she had planned to file a compensation claim, with the intention of donating any awarded funds to a charitable organization.

Regarding defamation cases, Şefik explained that individuals have the option to request criminal proceedings if they believe that compensation alone will not suffice as a remedy for the harm caused.

In reference to President Ersin Tatar's decision to pay 20,000 TL in compensation to Özgür Gazete, Şefik clarified that this was a decision made by a lower court and could be subject to appeal when brought before the High Court. She mentioned that, based on her information, an appeal might indeed be filed.

In accordance with legal procedures, the High Court would conduct its own review of the compensation decision, which could result in the decision remaining unchanged, the compensation amount being reduced, or other adjustments as deemed necessary.