DENİZ TEKİN
The trial of journalist Perihan Kaya, charged over her social media posts, was postponed in Diyarbakır’s 10th High Criminal Court due to the ongoing process of obtaining her overseas deposition. Kaya, currently abroad, faces charges of "membership in a terrorist organization" and "making terrorist propaganda."
At the fifth hearing, Kaya was not present, though her attorney, Resul Temur, attended. The presiding judge stated that Kaya's overseas testimony has yet to be finalized. Temur reminded the court that her deposition had already been recorded and submitted with a translation, requesting that procedural gaps in the case be resolved. The prosecutor echoed this request to complete the procedural requirements.
The court ordered that the outstanding deposition process continue, instructing the Ministry of Justice to follow up on the matter. The next hearing is scheduled for March 21, 2025.
Case background
The Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initially indicted Kaya on charges of "membership in a terrorist organization" and "making terrorist propaganda." The evidence cited includes Kaya’s communications with colleagues, statements from confidential witnesses, electronic tips, overseas travel, her membership in the now-defunct Free Journalists Association, and social media posts from 2015.
At the initial hearing on March 24, 2021, the court sentenced Kaya to one year and three months in prison for "making terrorist propaganda" but acquitted her of "membership in a terrorist organization." However, the Regional Court of Appeal later overturned the local court’s decision, returning the case for retrial on grounds that the court had failed to account for "repeated offense" provisions, resulting in an insufficient sentence.
