Many greet released journalists coming out of prison in Diyarbakır

Photo: Mezopotamya Agency

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

After the court released the fifteen imprisoned Kurdish journalists yesterday (July 12) on the second day of the first hearing of the case against 18 journalists in Diyarbakır, Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) Co-Chair Serdar Altan, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) editor Aziz Oruç, Editor-in Chief of the Xwebûn newspaper Mehmet Ali Ertaş, journalists Zeynel Abidin Bulut, Ömer Çelik, Mazlum Doğan Güler, İbrahim Koyuncu, Neşe Toprak, Elif Üngür, Abdurrahman Öncü, Suat Doğuhan, Remziye Temel, Ramazan Geciken, Lezgin Akdeniz and Mehmet Şahin came out of the prison in the evening.

Their colleagues, families, representatives of political parties and democratic organizations in the city were in front of the prison to greet them.

"This was a case against journalism"

The fifteen who were jailed for 13 months without appearing in court were welcomed clapping and cheering in front of the prison.

Serdar Altan said here, "This was a great day. It has been 400 days of our imprisonment. This was a case against journalism. It was built on the imprisonment of the Kurdish journalists. We have shown that this is an unlawful case. And the court has confirmed this."

Tahliye kararı verilen gazeteciler cezaevinden çıkmaya başladı. pic.twitter.com/O4h1pMyj0j

— Mezopotamya Ajansı (@MAturkce) July 12, 2023

"Many of our friends are still jailed"

"Although we are outside now, many of our friends are still jailed," Altan said and added that they will continue from where they had to leave. He thanked everyone for the solidarity shown.

Representatives of organizations of journalists were present in the hearing of the case among whom were Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Turkey representative Erol Önderoğlu, Turkey Journalists Union (TGS) Chairperson Gökhan Durmuş, DİSK Basın-İş Union Ankara Representative Turgut Dedeoğlu, Media and Law Studies Co-Director lawyer Veysel Ok, Engin Deniz İpek from IPI, Caroline Stockford from PEN Norway Turkey desk.

What happened?

22 people were taken into custody on June 8, 2022 in Diyarbakır, 20 of whom were journalists.

Mezopotamya News Agency (MA) editor Aziz Oruç, JinNews News Director Safiye Alagaş, Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFGD) Co-Chairperson Serdar Altan, Xwebûn newspaper Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Ali Ertaş and journalists Ömer Çelik, Neşe Toprak, Mehmet Şahin, Zeynel Abidin Bulut, Elif Üngör, Remziye Temel, Suat Doğuhan, Lezgin Akdeniz, İbrahim Koyuncu, Abdurrahman Öncü, Ramazan Geciken and Mazlum Güler were kept in detention for one week and arrested on June 16, 2022.

Journalists Gülşen Koçuk, Kadir Bayram, Mehmet Yalçın, Esmer Tunç and Feynaz Koçuk and İhsan Ergünlü detained with them were released on condition of judicial control.

The files of JİNNEWS Manager Safiye Alağaş, editor Gülşen Koçuk, ex-journalist Feynaz Koçuk and İhsan Ergülen who appeared in street interviews were separated on March 21.

A 383-page indictment was prepared against Alağaş, where she was charged with "being a member of an armed terrorist organization."

Alagaş was released in the first hearing on June 15 after staying in prison for one year.

(NT/PE)