Deniz Tekin
Öznur Değer, news editor for the pro-Kurdish women's news outlet JINNEWS, was released from pretrial detention during the first hearing in her case, held on May 21, 2025, at the Mardin 2nd High Criminal Court in southeastern Turkey. Değer had been in custody since February 7, facing charges of “making continuous terrorist propaganda” over her social media posts.
Değer attended the hearing remotely via video link from Erzincan Women's Closed Prison, while her lawyers were present in the courtroom. Observers included her family, fellow journalists, and civil society representatives. Riot police were stationed around the courthouse as a security measure.
During the identity verification process, Değer responded in Kurdish and requested to deliver her defense statement in Kurdish. The presiding judge reminded her that the defendant is responsible for translation costs. Değer countered that she had previously made defense statements in Kurdish without incurring any fees and proceeded with her statement through an interpreter.
In her defense, Değer argued that she was being targeted for her work as a journalist and as a woman. “This case is a case of revenge,” she said. When she made this statement, the presiding judge interrupted, claiming that she was "abusing her right to defense." Her lawyer, Erdal Kuzu, objected, saying this was a clear violation of her right to a full defense.
Değer also said there was nothing in the indictment that constituted a crime. She claimed she was targeted after reacting to a police officer’s sexist remarks while covering a condolence gathering in Midyat for two journalists, Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, who were killed in Syria. She said that after this incident, she received threats of death and rape and was reported to authorities, but her complaints were ignored. “The news stories I shared are still online and have not been removed by any court order. I was arrested simply for sharing them,” she added.
Değer also alleged that she was subjected to torture, but the court did not include this statement in the official record. Her lawyers objected, calling this omission unlawful.
Defense attorneys Ali Kahraman, Berivan Orhan, and Erdal Kuzu argued that the case should be considered within the scope of press freedom and freedom of expression. They also stated that the reversal of a prior decision not to prosecute was procedurally improper.
The court questioned whether Değer held an official press card. She responded that such a card is not required to work as a journalist and cited a ruling by the Council of State affirming this. “The Presidency’s Directorate of Communications does not issue cards to opposition journalists,” she added.
In the prosecution’s final opinion, the prosecutor requested a conviction but also recommended Değer’s release. The court ordered her release based on the length of time she had already spent in detention and imposed a travel ban. Both Değer and her lawyers were granted time to respond to the prosecutor’s opinion. The next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 21, 2025.
Background
Öznur Değer was arrested on Feb. 7, 2025, following a police raid on her home in Kızıltepe, a district in Mardin province. She was initially held in Mardin E-Type Prison before being transferred to Erzincan Prison in eastern Turkey.
The indictment cited her social media posts and reporting as evidence of criminal activity. It also referred to her reaction to a police officer's remarks during a condolence event for fallen journalists as further grounds for prosecution. Prosecutors argued that Değer had "exceeded the limits of freedom of expression."
