Numerous journalists, lawyers, and activists are scheduled to appear before judges across Turkey this week in cases related to their professional work, participation in protests, and news reports published in pro-Kurdish outlets. Court hearings will take place in major cities including Istanbul, Diyarbakır, Bitlis, and Şanlıurfa.
June 24, Tuesday
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At 9:20 a.m., the retrial of journalist Sinan Aygül on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” will be heard at the Bitlis 2nd High Criminal Court.
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At 10 a.m., Derya Ren, a reporter for JINNEWS, will appear before the Nizip 5th Criminal Court of First Instance. She was detained while attempting to report on a femicide in Nizip, a district in the southeastern city of Gaziantep. Ren is accused of “insulting a police officer.”
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At 10:25 a.m., Süleyman Ekinci will stand trial at the İzmir 23rd Criminal Court of First Instance on charges of “insult,” “resisting to prevent the performance of duty,” and “participating in illegal meetings and demonstrations.”
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At 11:10 a.m. and 11:20 a.m., two separate hearings will be held at the Şanlıurfa 4th Criminal Court of First Instance for writer Gökhan Yavuzel. He is being tried on charges of “insulting the president.” Yavuzel is represented by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA).
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At 12:30 p.m., the 19th hearing of a case against Seda Şaraldı, a lawyer and member of the Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD), and 11 others will be held at the Istanbul 32nd High Criminal Court. The group is being prosecuted for “membership in a terrorist organization” over their professional legal work.
June 25, Wednesday
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At 11 a.m., Züleyha Müldür, a reporter for the Etkin News Agency (ETHA), will appear at the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court for the first hearing of her trial on “terror group membership” charges. Müldür has been in pretrial detention since Jan. 24 following a probe by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
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At 1:30 p.m., journalist İdris Yılmaz will be retried at the Erciş 1st Criminal Court of First Instance on defamation charges. The Court of Cassation had overturned a previous conviction, prompting the new hearing. Yılmaz is also represented by MLSA.
June 26, Thursday
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At 9:40 a.m., journalist Abdullah Kaya will appear at the Ağrı 2nd High Criminal Court on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization.” He is also represented by MLSA.
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At 11 a.m., journalist Buse Söğütlü and four others will attend the third hearing of their trial at the Istanbul 10th Criminal Court of First Instance. They were detained while covering the 21st Feminist Night March in Istanbul.
June 27, Friday
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At 10 a.m., journalist Cesim İlhan will appear before the Çerkezköy 8th Criminal Court of First Instance. He is accused of “inciting the public to hatred and enmity.” MLSA is also providing his legal defense.
