Melek Karahan, arrested over social media posts, released
Melek Karahan, who was imprisoned in Mardin on charges of spreading misleading information to the public, appeared before the judge at the first hearing and was released.
Fifty-year-old Melek Karahan, known publicly as the "Marilyn Monroe of Mardin," who was arrested on charges of publicly disseminating misleading information to the public due to her social media posts, was released by the panel of judges at her first hearing.
Court Process
The first hearing of the trial opened against 50-year-old Melek Karahan, who was arrested in Mardin over her social media posts, took place. The case was heard at the 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance of the Mardin Courthouse.
Participation in the Hearing
Melek Karahan participated in the hearing via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS) from the prison where she was held and made her defense before the panel of judges.
Defendant's Defense
In her defense in court, Melek Karahan stated that July 15 was a treacherous coup attempt and condemned the coup. She stated that she did not prepare the posts herself, that she shared a member of parliament's post without examining it, that she regretted this behavior, and that she was worried about her children.
Prosecution's Opinion
During the hearing, the prosecutor's office presented its opinion on the merits, requesting that Karahan be punished within the scope of articles 217/A and 218 of the Turkish Penal Code.
Decision of Release
Following the prosecution's opinion on the merits, the panel of judges decided to release Melek Karahan and adjourned the hearing to a later date.
Statement by the Lawyer
Making a statement after the hearing, Melek Karahan's lawyer, Elif Narin Dursun, stated that since the prosecutor's opinion was against them, they requested time to prepare their defense on the merits and that her client would attend the next hearing without being detained.