JİYAN Journalist Hayri Tunç Released

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JİYAN (Women’s’ News Agency) correspondent Hayri Tunç, who had been put on trial on charge of “propagandizing for the terrorist organization” through his sharings on social media, had his first hearing today (March 11) before İstanbul 13th High Criminal Court.

Following Tunç’s plea that his actions on the social media would fall within the scope of freedom of expression, his attorneys Bülent Çoban and Ramazan Demir have expressed that the profession of journalism should for the sake of the decisions of European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Constitutional Court (AYM) not be discussed in the hearing rooms of this court and there is no necessity for continuation of detention.  

The court has ordered release of Tunç taking the time he has been under arrest in account.

The next hearing will be held on May 24.

With the release of Tunç, the number of the arrested journalists has fallen to 33.

What had happened?

Tunç had been taken into custody while leaving his house in Bayrampaşa (January 2) by police and taken to İstanbul Security Directorate Anti-Terror Department.

Following the hearing in court, Tunç has been arrested on charges of “propagandizing for the terrorist organization” within his sharings on social media.

Tunç had also been taken into custody in a house raid by police two months ago. (EA/DG)

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