A Turkish court has acquitted Kurdish filmmaker Rojhilat Aksoy, who was prosecuted on charges of “publicly insulting the Turkish nation and state institutions” after organizing a screening in Diyarbakir of Aurora’s Sunrise, an animated documentary that tells the story of Armenian Genocide survivor Aurora Mardiganian. The case drew criticism over freedom of expression in Turkey.
The Diyarbakir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office had charged Aksoy under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, accusing her of “publicly insulting the Turkish nation, the Republic of Turkey, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the judicial organs of the state.”
The charges stemmed solely from her role in organizing a December 17, 2024 screening of Aurora’s Sunrise.
According to the indictment, the case was brought against Aksoy because she had submitted the official petition to screen the film at the Sezai Karakoç Culture Center in Diyarbakir. Prosecutors cited scenes and content from the film as evidence, arguing that its depiction of the events of 1915 as genocide and its portrayal of Armenians as victims of inhuman treatment constituted a criminal offense.
The second hearing in the case took place on Monday at the Diyarbakir Criminal Court of First Instance, where Aksoy’s lawyer rejected the accusations and called for her acquittal, arguing that the case represented a direct attack on freedom of speech and artistic expression.
He emphasized that Aksoy was not the director of the film, but only participated in organizing its screening, adding that even directing such a film would fall within protected expression.
The defense also pointed to precedents set by the European Court of Human Rights, noting that individuals and institutions, including the Diyarbakir Bar Association, previously prosecuted for discussing the events of 1915, had been acquitted. Turkish courts have also previously ruled that the use of the term “Armenian Genocide” can fall within the scope of freedom of expression.
Following these arguments, the court acquitted Rojhilat Aksoy of all charges.
Aksoy previously served as vice president of the Middle East Cinema Academy Association.
On March 16, Zartonk Media reported that Aksoy had gone on trial after prosecutors cited scenes from Aurora’s Sunrise as evidence, objecting to the film’s portrayal of the 1915 Armenian Genocide and claiming it “insulted the Turkish nation.” The case underscored ongoing efforts to criminalize acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey, even in artistic and historical contexts.
