Journalists Charged for Illegal Affiliation

Five press workers who were arrested during a police raid on the offices of Dicle News Agency (DIHA), and Özgür Halk (Free People) Journal prior to June Istanbul NATO Summit, are brought before court on Tuesday.

After the raid on June 8, Ugur Balik, the DIHA Board Chair and Baris Güllü, the Responsible Editor for Free People Journal were arrested, and then they were released upon their lawyer’s appeal to a higher court. Güllü after his release was rearrested under another charge.

Ugur Balik, and DIHA editor Evin Katurman, reporters Meryem Yilmaz and Beyhan Sekman attended the Tuesday hearing in the Istanbul 13th Criminal Court. Other defendants Kenan Kirkkaya, and Baris Güllü who is jailed in Tekirdag maximum security prison, 200 kilometers to the west of Istanbul, were absent.

All defendants refused the public prosecutor’s indictment charging them with affiliations with an illegal organization and said that they were just doing their jobs as journalists.

Kenan Kirikkaya is accused for “assisting and hosting an illegal organization” while others are accused for being affiliated with the organization. (CC/EK/YE)