Journalist Uğur Dündar Responds to Trustee's Lawsuit: 'I've Seen This Too'

Veteran journalist Uğur Dündar has publicly responded to a criminal complaint filed against him by Gürsel Tekin, who was appointed as a trustee to the Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul Provincial Directorate. The complaint stems from a news report by Dündar concerning the alleged use of "extras" at a CHP badge-pinning ceremony.

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In my nearly 60 years of journalism, I have seen this too! The news of the 'Figuratively CHP meeting,' whose accuracy has been proven with documents and confessions - to which I also included the statements of Trustee Gürsel Tekin and the casting agency without comment - has led the Trustee to file a criminal complaint against me.

Dündar, who has nearly 60 years of journalistic experience, expressed his disbelief on social media, stating, "In my nearly 60 years of journalism, I have seen this too!" He detailed that the complaint was based on his X (formerly Twitter) post about the "Figuratively CHP meeting" news, which he asserted was proven with documents and confessions. Dündar noted that he had included statements from both the trustee Tekin and the casting agency in his report without comment.

Describing the situation as "bitterly ironic and tragically comic," Dündar highlighted it as a remarkable event in the history of politics and the press. He also revealed his intention to file a criminal complaint against Tekin for allegedly targeting journalists.

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Truly a situation that will go down in political and press history, both instructive and tragically comic.

The controversy arose from a report alleging that individuals were hired as paid extras to fill the audience at a CHP event, a claim that Tekin, as the appointed trustee, has apparently taken legal action against. Dündar's reporting on the matter, which included Tekin's response, has now led to legal proceedings against the journalist himself.

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Meanwhile, I will also file a criminal complaint against Tekin, who is targeting journalists.