Journalists Pınar Gayıp and Semiha Şahin Released to House Arrest

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Etkin News Agency (ETHA) editor Semiha Şahin and reporter Pınar Gayıp, who have been arrested pending trial since April 19, 2018, had their fifth hearing at the İstanbul 23rd Heavy Penal Court today (June 13).

Pronouncing its interlocutory judgement, the court has ruled that Şahin and Gayıp shall be released to house arrest. Their next hearing will held on at 10.30 a.m. on October 15, 2019.

Şahin referred to judicial reform strategy

Speaking in her fifth hearing today, Semiha Şahin reminded the audience that she has been behind bars for 14 months and continued as follows:

"In the judicial reform strategy document announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, there were some points about long periods of arrest and freedom of press and expression that attracted our attention.

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"We have been emphasizing this very point for 1 year, 2 months. I think the offences charged are within the scope of freedom of expression and press. From the very beginning, I have been telling that I am a journalist and journalism is not a crime. I request my release."

Speaking after Semiha Şahin, Pınar Gayıp also said, "For five hearings, we have been trying to prove that we do journalism, journalism is not a crime and journalism is about making news and sharing them. We demand a verdict of release now."

Release to house arrest

Lawyers Özcan Karakoç and Kader Tunç also requested the release of their clients. Repeating his previous opinion as to the accusations, the prosecutor demanded that the arrest of Şahin and Gayıp continue.

However, announcing its interlocutory judgement, the court has ruled that Pınar Gayıp and Semiha Şahin shall be released to house arrest.

Prosecutor demanded penalization on terror charges

In the third hearing of the case held on January 30, 2019, the prosecutor announced his opinion as to the accusations, demanding that Semiha Şahin be penalized on charges of "being member of a terrorist organization and propagandizing for a terrorist organization", Pınar Gayıp be penalized for "being member of a terrorist organization", Federation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF) member Ferhat Pehlivan and Gülsen İmre be penalized for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization."

(TP/SD)