Reporter Aydın Sentenced to 1 Year, 3 Months in Prison Due to Social Media Posts

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Journalist Melike Aydın, who is a reporter for the Jinnews website, has been sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization". Her social media posts from 13 years ago have been cited as the reason for the prison term.

Aydın was taken into custody in February 2019 when she was on her way back from news follow-up in Aydın. She was detained due to her social media messages from the year 2006.

The final hearing of the lawsuit filed against her was held at the 20th Heavy Penal Court in Bayraklı Courthouse yesterday (September 9). 

The hearing was attended by Melike Aydın herself and her lawyer Şükran Öztürk as well as several journalists.

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), lawyer Şükran Öztürk indicated that no reasonable suspicion in her case file, underlining that the evidence was illegally obtained in terms of procedure.

Announcing its ruling after the last statements of defense were presented, the court board has ruled that journalist Melike Aydın shall be sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization". The announcement of the verdict has been deferred. (RT/SD)

* Photograph: Jinnews