Two Journalists Released, 101 still behind Bars

Dicle News Agency (DİHA) Batman representative Erdoğan Altan and Diyarbakır representative Kadri Kaya were released pending trial on Thursday (28 March). The Diyarbakır 7^th High Criminal Court decided for their release taking into consideration the time they have spent in detention already. The next hearing is scheduled for 14 May.

Altan and Kaya are facing sentences according to Articles 220/7 and 314/4 of the Turkish Criminal Law (TCK) (willingly and knowingly aiding an illegal organization without being part of its organizational structure), Article 314/2 TCK (membership in a terrorist organization) and Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law (TMK) (making propaganda for a terrorist organization).

Both journalists were arrested in the course of police operations carried out in Batman and Diyarbakır on 17 April 2011. Their trial started on 13 September. The charges pressed against Altan and Kaya are based on their news broadcasted on the Kurdish Roj TV channel and the Denge Mesopotamia Radio. (EG/HK)