Journalist Ali Kişmir’s Trial Begins with Charges: Witnesses to be Heard on November 26

Represented by Hasan Esendağlı, President of the Cyprus Turkish Bar Association, and lawyer Cansu N. Nazlı, Kışmir’s defense expressed readiness for the trial’s next phase. Esendağlı explained that today’s hearing marked the beginning of the indictment process, during which the court reads the charges and proceeds to witness testimonies. “This initial procedure is as expected,” Esendağlı noted. “The court has ordered the summoning of three witnesses for November 26, when the initial phase of questioning will commence.”

Esendağlı emphasized that being charged is necessary for the defense to proceed, adding that the prosecution plans to call a total of five witnesses.

Speaking after the hearing, Ali Kışmir stated, “The trial process has started, which we anticipated. I have been charged for an article I posted on Facebook. All I did was express my thoughts in writing.”

Lawyer Cansu N. Nazlı also commented on the broader implications, highlighting the trial’s significance for freedom of expression. “As people who live in this country and uphold freedom of expression and press freedom as societal values, we reject the idea of a journalist being prosecuted with a 10-year prison term over a written article,” she said. “Even a single day of imprisonment for a journalist due to an article is unacceptable.”

The trial, which has sparked attention for its potential impact on press freedom and freedom of speech, will continue with witness testimonies later this month.