Court accepts indictment against Kurdish journalist Mehmet Şah Oruç

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The Bitlis 2nd Heavy Penal Court has accepted the indictment against Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Mehmet Şah Oruç, charging him with "being a member of a terrorist organization" and "disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organization."

The court has also set a trial date for the case, where Oruç will make his first appearance before a judge on September 14.

Oruç's legal proceedings stem from events earlier this year when he, along with 10 other journalists, was taken into custody on April 25 in Diyarbakır and subsequently arrested. The allegations against him are based on a 63-page indictment prepared by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The indictment highlights 35 news articles and social media posts authored by Oruç, which the prosecution claims constitute "support for a terrorist organization."

The Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is seeking a maximum prison sentence of 22 years and 6 months for Oruç.

Previously, Diyarbakır's 4th Heavy Penal Court had deemed itself 'lacking jurisdiction' over the case, leading to the transfer of the proceedings from Diyarbakır to Bitlis.

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(HA/VK)