Lawsuit against Managing Editor of Mezopotamya Agency

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A lawsuit has been filed against Ferhat Çelik, the Managing Editor of Mezopotamya Agency (MA), over a news report published on the website.

After the Bayburt Type M Closed Penal Institution filed a criminal complaint against the journalist over the news report titled "Bugs mixed with arrestees' food in Bayburt", a lawsuit has been filed against Ferhat Çelik over this news report published on the website on October 4, 2018.

As the indictment lodged by the prosecutor's office has been accepted, Çelik will stand trial at the Bayburt Penal Court of First Instance on February 2.

About the news

Berivan Bayındır, an inmate of Bayburt Type M Women's Closed Prison, talked to her family about the ill treatment and violations of rights that they faced in prison. According to what Bayındır said, the food given to prisoners were spat and bugs were added to the food. She also said that the inmates were forced to sign a paper indicating that "they repented."

Her family also said that before the State of Emergency was lifted in July 2018, the director of the prison was changed and serious violations of rights were committed in the prison following this change. According to the family, Bayındır was denied her right to contact visitation for 3-4 months and the last time when they saw their daughter was the last Sacrifice Feast.

Bayındır also said that they were forced to have medical examinations in handcuffs and some prisoners were offered to work as informants. (SO/SD)