Opinion as to Accusations Announced in ‘Social Media’ Case of Journalist Kobulan

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Facing up to 13 years in prison on charge of "repeatedly propagandizing for a terrorist organization," Mezopotamya Agency reporter Yasin Kobulan had his first hearing at İstanbul 30th Heavy Penal Court today (December 26).

A lawsuit was filed against Kobulan for "repeatedly propagandizing for a terrorist organization" on October 17 after he shared the rights violations that were committed during the curfews in the eastern and southeastern provinces of Turkey in 2015 on his Facebook account.

"My posts were of journalistic nature"

In today's hearing, which was attended by Yasin Kobulan and his attorneys Sercan Korkmaz and Özcan Kılıç, Kobulan made his statement regarding the accusations. Stating that he posted the messages in question while he was working as a reporter in the region, Kobulan said:

"These posts were not shared with the aim of propagandizing for a terrorist organization; I shared those posts as activities of journalism. When the posts are examined, it will be seen they are of journalistic nature. I did not have any intention of propagandizing for a terrorist organization."

His next hearing in March 2019

The Prosecutor's Office announced its opinion as to the accusations and demanded that the defendant be penalized on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization."

The attorneys of Kobulan requested additional time so that they could prepare their statements as to the opinion announced by the Prosecutor's Office. The court board ruled that the next hearing of Kobulan shall be held at 2 p.m. on March 8, 2019. (HA/SD)