The Prime Ministry, the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and the National Security Council (MGK) Secretary General has filed criminal complaints against Taraf newspaper and journalist Mehmet Baransu with the Ankara Public Prosecutor's Office.

The case filed with the Ankara Prosecutor's office on Wednesday for "slander" and the "disclosure of confidential documents" were transferred to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office due to "lack of venue" as both the journalist's residence and the newspaper's headquarters are located in Istanbul.

The article in question exposes decisions made at a 2004 National Security Council meeting and claims the government signed on to a proposed action plan against the 'Gülen movement', which the article alleges was profiled by the National Intelligence Organization. The Prime Ministry's Legal Services Directorate requested public action be taken in response to an article dated December 2, 2013, in which both the newspaper and the journalist, "committed libel by accusing Prime Minister Undersecretary Efkan Ala of illegal activity."

PUBLISHING FALSE CLAIMS

The National Security Council (MGK) also requested the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office conduct the necessary proceedings and investigation into the violation of article 329 in the Turkish Criminal Code, for "violating the confidentiality of MGK rulings and for publishing false claims." Article 329 of the Turkish Criminal Code stipulates three to eight years imprisonment for obtaining information regarding state security issues. According to the article, those who release such information regarding state security issues could be subject to a five to ten year prison sentence.

The National Intelligence Organization (MİT) also requested criminal proceedings, in accordance to article 27 of MİT law, be made against Baransu and Taraf newspaper for the December 2, 2013 article published by the daily.

Article 27 of the National Intelligence Organization code deals with acquiring and publishing classified information and documents belonging to the intelligence agency. Those charged with committing such crimes are sentenced to a minimum of two years in prison.

The cases filed with the Ankara Prosecutor's office on Wednesday for "slander" and the "disclosure of confidential documents" were transferred to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office due to "lack of venue" as both the journalist's residence and the newspaper's headquarters are located in Istanbul.

PRIME MINISTER ERDOĞAN FILES FOR COMPENSATION

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan also recently filed a case seeking 50,000 TL in compensation against Taraf newspaper and journalist Emre Usli for attacking his personal rights in an article entitled "Close Them All" in relation to the ongoing 'dershane' exam prep schools closure debate.

This is a translation of an article originally written by Aliye Çetinkaya.