Journalist Sertaç Kayar acquitted of 'terrorism' charges

Photo: MLSA 

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Journalist Sertaç Kayar has been acquitted of "establishing and managing an illegal organization" after he was put on trial over news reports about the Democratic Society Congress' (DTK) activities in the Kurdish-majority Diyarbakır province between 2012 and 2014.

Sertaç Kayar and his attorney Şivan Cemil Özen were present at the Diyarbakır 10th Heavy Penal Court, MLSA reported.

The Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's statement that nothing related to Kayar was found in the confiscated material during a search at the DTK.

Attorney Özen said that the "Sertaç" included in the DTK Permanent Assembly members list was not his client.

Stating his opinion as to the accusations after the defense statement, the prosecutor alleged that Kayar and DTK members tried to "break the unit and the integrity of the state" and "achieve the so-called Kurdish national unity."

Because of the demonstration and event he attended, he said, Kayar should be sentenced to from 7.5 to 15 years in prison for "membership of an armed terrorist organization."

Speaking after the prosecutor, Kayar reiterated that he was never a part of the DTK structure and that what he did was journalism. "As seen in the photographs, I have either a camera or a video camera."

Announcing its verdict, the court ruled that he did not commit the alleged offense. (HA/VK)