Deniz Tekin
Sofya Alağaş, former news editor of Jin News and a co-mayor of Siirt Municipality in southeastern Turkey, was sentenced to six years and three months in prison on charges of "membership in a terrorist organization." The verdict was issued during the seventh and final hearing of her trial at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court. Alağaş was prosecuted for her journalistic activities, including the editorial policies and content of Jin News.
Following the court's decision, Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) Co-Director Veysel Ok condemned the verdict, saying, “This case will not end here. As her lawyers, we will file the necessary appeals.”
Trial centered on journalism activities
The charges against Alağaş stemmed from her role as news editor at Jin News, a women-focused news agency, where prosecutors scrutinized the agency's editorial policies, news headlines, visual content, and overall reporting. Alağaş did not attend the hearing, but her lawyers Resul Temur, Veysel Ok, and Pirozhan Karali were present. Observers at the trial included representatives from the German Embassy in Turkey, lawmakers from the Green Left Party, municipal council members, bar association officials from Siirt and Diyarbakır, members of journalists’ organizations, and a large number of police officers. Security measures outside the courthouse were notably high.
During the hearing, the prosecution reiterated its call for Alağaş to be sentenced on the charge of "membership in a terrorist organization," arguing that the evidence supported the allegation.
Defense lawyers criticize procedural flaws and political motives
In his defense statement, lawyer Resul Temur argued that the case was politically motivated and accelerated unlawfully. He highlighted procedural irregularities, such as the court's last-minute decision to hear testimony from a secret witness, which Temur described as a "political intervention in the case." He asserted that the investigation was initiated due to Alağaş's journalism and that it aligned with a broader crackdown on Kurdish media outlets.
Since the launch of the investigation, Temur noted, approximately 50 Kurdish journalists have been detained, framing the case as part of a "systematic and ideological targeting of Kurdish press." He also criticized the prosecutor's approach, which he said improperly linked journalistic activities to criminal conduct by intervening in editorial policies. Temur added that some of the news reports cited as evidence were time-barred under Turkish press law.
Secret witness testimony raises concerns
The defense team also pointed out inconsistencies in the case. They revealed that the secret witness, identified with the code name K8C4B3LITS, had previously testified in another trial involving 11 journalists in Ankara and had identified themselves as a "state agent." Lawyer Pirozhan Karali argued that relying on such testimony violated legal standards. “My client is being punished solely for her journalistic activities," Karali said, calling for Alağaş's acquittal.
MLSA Co-Director Veysel Ok also criticized the indictment as legally flawed, stating, “The 383-page indictment devotes 200 pages to explaining the structure of the KCK organization, but only 10 pages focus on the allegations against my client. This case blatantly violates press laws and constitutional protections for freedom of the press.”
Court delivers split decision
After a brief recess, the court sentenced Alağaş to six years and three months in prison by majority vote. However, one judge dissented, arguing that the evidence did not conclusively prove the charge of "membership in a terrorist organization" and recommending acquittal.
The dissenting judge highlighted that the allegations were tied to Alağaş's journalism and lacked credible evidence linking her to any criminal activity.
Alağaş and supporters denounce ruling
Outside the courthouse, Alağaş condemned the decision, calling it politically motivated. “This trial is an attack on Kurdish journalists. It is a case that refuses to recognize the role of Kurdish media,” she said. “The ruling is a clear reflection of the hostility against Kurds, and everyone knows what it signifies.”
Veysel Ok reiterated that the trial was shaped by political considerations. “If Sofya Alağaş were not a co-mayor, this verdict would not have been issued,” he said. “The entire case file revolves around journalistic activities that are protected under the Constitution. A journalist in the West could easily publish similar stories without facing such consequences, yet a journalist in Diyarbakır is sentenced to over six years in prison for the same.”
Ok also highlighted discrepancies in the indictment, such as inconsistencies in Alağaş’s listed job titles, and pointed out that many of the reports cited as evidence were past the legal statute of limitations for prosecution under Turkish press law. He vowed to appeal the ruling, asserting, “This case is not over. We will fight this decision through the proper legal channels.”
Broader crackdown on Kurdish media
The case against Alağaş is part of a broader crackdown on journalists in Turkey, particularly those working in Kurdish media. According to advocacy groups, dozens of Kurdish journalists have been detained or sentenced in recent years, as press freedom in the country continues to deteriorate. International observers, including the Council of Europe, have frequently criticized Turkey for its restrictive approach to media and its use of anti-terror laws to target dissenting voices.
