'They demand up to 19 years in jail because of a two-line story'

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Standing trial as per the Article 329/1 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and the Article 27 of the Law on State Intelligence Services and National Intelligence Organization due to the news regarding the funeral of a National Intelligence Organization (MİT) officer killed in Libya, seven journalists had their second hearing at the İstanbul 34th Heavy Penal Court. We are publishing their full statements as to the accusations.

CLICK - Journalists on trial for revealing identity of intelligence officer

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The prosecution turns a blind eye on the publications that reported the same story long before we did and claims Yeni Yaşam has comMİTted the crime of disclosure. Surely what other publications did was also journalism like we did. This would be the right approach here.

There is a very clear definition of the MİT law. The law states; publication of identity details or a photo of a MİT member without the knowledge of this professional background or without relating all with his actions does not constitute a crime. This clause very well defines the status of the story published in our paper. Yes, some people lost their lives in Libya. For the first time, it was the president, as the most credible person in this country, to announce this in person. Many others joined in statements. The general perception was that those killed were members of the Turkish army.

As a newspaper, we reported on the claims. We had no intention to disclosure MİT at any stage. Prosecutors' demands carry this same interpretation as in the indictment, which is in favor of our story in the paper.

Here's the expression;

"It is understood that the news items before the act of disclosure by Murat Agirel carried no implication that the martyrs were known to be MİT members, but were stated as members of the Turkish armed forces."

However, there is not even any evidence presented as part of such a serious organizational allegation. We, as the Yeni Yasam newspaper not only not cooperated with any news organization during that period but also didn't even discuss the story in our daily meeting.

No contextual discussions take place regarding routine stories, stories that are quoted from other sources. If to be used, we put up the first version of the story. The editor, at most, can arrange its length. It is never treated as a breaking, exclusive story. It has already been circulated on the Internet, in print outlets.

Given all that, this cannot be an act of espionage. A person who recirculated already circulated material in open sources is not a spy but clearly a journalist.

Surely journalism doesn't grant anyone a shield of immunity. But the story on our website is clearly an act of journalism.

We would commit such a grave crime yet the MİT and the security forces would wait for two weeks before they filed for charges. A cocktail like a folder is compiled, and we are portrayed as if we were involved in an organization to comMİT a grave crime.

We live through a period when the democracy in the country is already pushed to the ground, the dissent is wished to be crushed and a bunch of opposition media is tried to be intimidated by trials, closures and fines. We have the highest number of journalists. We want the law to apply everyone equally not depending on the person.

Media Outlets that call for massacres, legitimize rape, use discriminative language, support racism, sectarianism, openly curse and swear get to be tolerated but critical and opposition outlets, as in our case, would be crushed upon flimsy grounds.

The damage such a system would inflict upon us will be minimum. However, adds further stains on an already tainted pessimistic future. A free press, critical press is a must in a country. Once these veins are cut, the breathing channels of society get also cut, leading the society through a cliff.

Even though we speak for days, we would be repeating ourselves. They demand up to 19 years in jail because of a 2-line story. This is enough to summarize the gravity of the situation. That's why I don't want to elaborate further. I demand my acquittal. If you intend to prolong, I demand my domestic travel ban be lifted. I need to travel for work and now I cannot. (HA/VK)

Source: TRFreePress