Court Rejects Releasing Reporter Duru

DIHA reporter Duru was arrested while he was investigating allegations about cannabis planting. The local court has rejected his demand to be released. His camera and tape recorder have not been returned so that the evidence is not fiddled with.

Erol Önderoğlu

Birol Duru, a reporter for the Dicle News Agency (DIHA) was arrested in the Dinarbey village of the Karliova district of the province of Bingol and put in jail. A court has rejected Duru's demand to be released pending the outcome of the trial.

The journalist will be tried by the specialized heavy penalty court in Diyarbakir. The specialized heavy penalty court has replaced the State Security Courts (DGM).

Third court rejects releasing Duru too

The reporters' camera and tape recorder have not been returned so that the "evidence is not fiddled with."

Birol Duru was detained in the Dinarbey village while he was shooting the cannabis fields, and was arrested by a local court. Through his lawyer Servet Ozen, Duru made an application to the local court asking to be released. This was the third court Duru applied to be released. And the third court that rejected his application.

Duru was investigating allegations that Lieutenant AY of the Yedisu provincial paramilitary police in Bingol was planting cannabis in cooperation with some villagers. He was arrested after police officers found a cassette in his bag, which contained expressions that complimented HPG militants. He was sent to a Bingol prison on August 14. (EO/KO/EA/YE)

Origin

BÄ°A News Center

Erol Önderoğlu

[email protected]

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A graduate of the French Language and Literature Department at İstanbul University. He has served as the Turkey representative for the international organization Reporters Without...

A graduate of the French Language and Literature Department at İstanbul University. He has served as the Turkey representative for the international organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), where he began as a reporter in 1996. Since 1999, he has worked at bianet, a project of the IPS Communication Foundation, as the coordinator of the Legal Support Desk, editor for freedom of expression, and editor-in-chief. He has authored more than 4,800 signed news articles and opinion pieces. He has also written for Bizim Gazete and the journal Güncel Hukuk. He currently prepares the Media Monitoring Reports at bianet.