Journalist Ruken Demir Released

* Photo and news: Mezopotamya Agency

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Held in pre-trial detention, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Ruken Demir had her first hearing at the İzmir 19th Heavy Penal Court yesterday (March 5). Demir was arrested on charge of "membership of a [terrorist/illegal] organization" on November 26, 2019.

As reported by the MA, in her defense at court, Ruken Demir stated that the wiretapped phone conversations cited in the bill of indictment were about the news that she reported. Underlining that journalism could not be considered a crime, the journalist requested her release.

Barış Işık and Osman Çelik, the attorneys of Demir, also stated that the phone conversations and the news in the indictment were journalistic activities and requested the release of their client.

The court has ruled that journalist Ruken Demir shall be released.

She will have her next hearing on April 28, 2020.

What happened?

Journalist Ruken Demir, a reporter for Mezopotamya Agency (MA) in the Aegean province of İzmir, was taken into custody on November 12 as part of an investigation launched by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and arrested on November 26, 2019. The indictment issued against the journalist charged her with "membership of an organization" and cited her news on hunger strikes and protests at the Mount Ida as criminal evidence.

The indictment also based the charged offense on her phone conversations with the Aegean Association for Solidarity with Families of Arrestees and the executives of Human Rights Association (İHD) İzmir Branch. (EMK/SD)