Journalists and father face up to 14 years over alleged liberty deprivation in child death case

Giresun prosecutors have filed charges against journalist Canan Coşkun, documentary filmmaker Kazım Kızıl and Şaban Vatan, the father of the deceased 11-year-old Rabia Naz Vatan, accusing them of depriving a person of liberty through force, threats or deception. The allegation stems from a 2019 interview with witness Mürsel Küçükal, who was asked to reenact the child’s movements at the scene and later claimed he was pressured.

Coşkun and Kızıl state they left the location after expressing discomfort, while Vatan allegedly urged the witness to continue. Kızıl also faces a separate charge of attempting to influence a fair trial. The prosecutor is requesting sentences of four to 14 years and the case is set for a first hearing on Oct 22, with the journalists to give their defenses via videoconference.