Murat Ovuc Released from Custody
Social media influencer Murat Ovuc (Murat Övüç), who was arrested on charges of "publicly inciting the people to hatred and hostility" due to a post shared on social media, appeared before the judge for the second time. Considering the state of evidence in the file and the duration of his detention, the court decided to release Ovuc under the condition of a judicial sign-in requirement and a ban on traveling abroad, while adjourning the trial to a later date to complete missing documentation.
The investigation was launched by the Kucukcekmece (Küçükçekmece) Chief Public Prosecutor's Office after a video of Murat Ovuc wearing a headscarf began recirculating on social media platforms. Following the investigation, Ovuc was arrested for the crime of inciting public hatred. The hearing, held at the Kucukcekmece 5th Criminal Court of First Instance, was attended by the detained defendant via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBIS), while his lawyer was present in the courtroom.
"I repeat my previous defenses. I request my release and acquittal," Ovuc stated during the proceedings.
Trial Adjourned for Missing Documents
The court noted that previous case files regarding the defendant had been requested for review and that some documents had not yet been received. The Public Prosecutor requested the defendant's release under judicial control measures, taking into account the time served and the current state of evidence. Announcing its interim decision, the court ordered the release of Murat Ovuc with a foreign travel ban and mandatory signature requirements. The hearing was postponed to allow for the completion of missing case elements.
