Korur Fincancı, Önderoğlu Appear Before Judge

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First hearing of the trial in which Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) Chair Şebnem Korur Fincancı, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Representative for Turkey Erol Önderoğlu and journalist-writer Ahmet Nesin have been tried within the scope of the Özgür Gündem’s editor-in-chief on watch campaign was held yesterday.

Önderoğlu, Korur Fincancı, national and international media and human rights organizations representatives attended the hearing.

Ahmet Nesin didn’t attend the hearing as he was abroad.

Stating that the crime wasn’t constituted, attorneys representing Korur Fincancı and Önderoğlu demanded immediate acquittal.

The court rejected the acquittal demand.

The hearing will resume on January 11 at 10:30 a.m.

The three figures are being tried on charges of “promoting crime and criminal”, “incitement to commit crime” and “terror organization propaganda”.

Önderoğlu: I will never accept our arrest

Pleading first in the hearing, Önderoğlu said he will never accept the arrest.

He explained in what sort of situation Turkish media is by highlighting international indicators.

Fincancı: Freedom of expression has been a basic human right throughout the history

Korur Fincancı voiced right violations in the prisons, and said that freedom of expression is a basic human right as many thinkers hve expressed throughout the history.

Refusing the charges, Korur Fincancı didn’t want deferment of the announcement of the verdict. (BK/TK)