Deniz Tekin
Significant developments have emerged in the trial of Sofya Alağaş, the former news editor of Jin News, who is being prosecuted over her journalistic activities. In a surprising move, the court reversed earlier interim decisions and heard testimony from a secret witness not mentioned in the indictment. Simultaneously, the prosecutor submitted the final opinion on the case, demanding Alağaş’s conviction. Alağaş’s lawyer, Resul Temur, criticized the trial's acceleration, claiming it was politically motivated following her election as a co-mayor.
Alağaş, who was elected co-mayor of the southeastern Turkish city of Siirt during the March 31, 2024 local elections, had been detained on June 16, 2022, along with 16 other journalists. The arrests followed an investigation by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, which accused Alağaş of “membership in an armed organization” in a 383-page indictment. The prosecution cited Jin News’s editorial policies, reporting style, headlines, and visuals as evidence, claiming Alağaş’s journalism fostered sentiments such as "violence, criticism of the state, and sympathy for the PKK." The indictment also alleged her work constituted "PKK propaganda."
Trial speeds up after mayoral election, new investigations launched
Alağaş was released from pretrial detention after her first hearing at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court on June 15, 2023, following a year-long imprisonment. However, her election as Siirt’s co-mayor marked a turning point in the case. At the fifth hearing on Oct. 22, 2024, it was revealed that two new investigations had been launched in 2024 against Alağaş in Diyarbakır and Siirt, also on allegations of “membership in an armed organization.” The court decided to inquire whether these investigations were legally or factually connected to her current trial. Yet, at the sixth hearing on Jan. 9, the court abandoned this decision and did not incorporate these new cases into Alağaş’s trial. Meanwhile, the prosecutor issued a swift final opinion, demanding Alağaş’s conviction. A ruling is expected at the next hearing, scheduled for Jan. 28.
Lawyer criticizes court’s handling of secret witness testimony
Speaking to MLSA, Alağaş’s lawyer, Resul Temur, highlighted irregularities in the use of secret witness testimony. He pointed out that the court heard testimony from a secret witness codenamed K8Ç4B3LIT5, who had previously claimed to "work on behalf of the state" during another trial in Ankara involving journalists. Temur argued that the secret witness, who was not included in the case file or indictment, was improperly heard just two days after a court instruction. “The witness manipulated Alağaş’s journalistic activities to serve the state’s agenda,” he said.
Temur noted that this witness's testimony is also the basis for the Diyarbakır investigation into Alağaş. According to legal procedures, the witness’s statements should have been part of a new indictment, which would then be combined with Alağaş’s ongoing trial. Additionally, the court should have allowed Alağaş to present a defense regarding this new evidence. “The process has been completely mishandled,” Temur said.
Claims of politically motivated trial
Temur also criticized the court for its decision to drop its inquiry into the investigations in Siirt and Diyarbakır. He stated that the evidence in the Siirt investigation consisted of Jin News reports and social media posts, which were already part of the current trial. He noted that even the Siirt prosecutor had requested the cases be combined due to overlapping evidence. “The court’s refusal to consider these connections demonstrates a desire to expedite the trial for political reasons,” Temur claimed.
He further argued that the prosecutor prepared the final opinion in haste, possibly without fully reviewing the case file. “This trial has been rushed ever since Alağaş became co-mayor. The prosecution’s actions suggest a lack of independence, with the entire process influenced by political directives. Even if the trial wasn’t expedited, the political goal of punishing Alağaş and suppressing Kurdish media would have remained unchanged,” he said.
Temur expressed doubt about a fair legal outcome but said the defense had hoped for at least minimal adherence to procedural rules. "Unfortunately, even the appearance of due process has been abandoned,” he concluded.
