DENİZ TEKİN
Journalist Delal Akyüz, who has been under house arrest since February, is facing a 15-year prison sentence for alleged "membership in a terrorist organization" in an indictment filed nine months after his detention. Akyüz, a reporter for Mezopotamya Agency (MA), is being defended by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA). The 44-page indictment, prepared by the Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, lists his reporting activities, communication with sources, and the editorial stance of his agency as evidence of organizational ties.
Despite a Constitutional Court ruling in a similar case stating that journalists cannot be detained solely based on the organization they work for, Akyüz and other journalists are accused based on their association with agencies such as MA and Jinnews, which authorities allege operate as part of the “KCK Press and Publication Committee.” The indictment claims these agencies incite hostility by creating "perceptions" of discrimination and mistreatment of Kurdish people.
Case based on anonymous witness and phone records
The investigation was reportedly initiated based on statements from a secret witness, code-named K8Ç4B3LIT5, who previously testified in another case involving MA and Jinnews employees, stating they "worked on behalf of the state." The indictment includes witness testimonies identifying Akyüz and other journalists through photographs.
Akyüz’s calls with sources, colleagues, and family members of political prisoners are cited as evidence, including his contact with a fellow journalist for directions to the funeral of Deniz Poyraz, who was killed in a political attack in Izmir. Conversations about his detained colleagues, his own legal proceedings, and even arrangements for music lessons are also listed as incriminating.
Additionally, 34 articles published by Akyüz on the MA website and 53 social media posts are cited as further evidence, with the indictment asserting that these reports align with the objectives of a terrorist organization. Shared housing and work travels with other journalists under investigation, participation in a journalist WhatsApp group, and journalistic materials found on his computer are also presented as signs of “organizational” involvement.
Legal background and further context
Akyüz was detained on Feb. 13, 2024, alongside four other journalists, including Cihan Başakçıoğlu of Gazete Duvar and MA reporters Semra Turan and Tolga Güney. After three days in detention, Akyüz and three others were placed under electronic monitoring, while Turan and Başakçıoğlu were required to report to the police twice weekly.
In response to his detention and seizure of journalistic materials, Akyüz’s lawyers filed a petition with the Constitutional Court, arguing that these actions constituted a disproportionate interference with press freedom. Eight months after the investigation began, charges were dropped against Başakçıoğlu, while indictments for “membership in a terrorist organization” were filed against the remaining journalists. The Izmir 13th High Criminal Court has scheduled the trial for Feb. 10, 2025.
Charge summary: “Reporting under the guise of journalism”
The indictment claims that the reporting conducted by MA and Jinnews serves the goals of a terrorist organization and that Akyüz’s work in Izmir aligns with the alleged agenda of this group’s “media committee.” It alleges that Akyüz carried out reporting activities under the guise of journalism in line with “the aims and ideology of an armed terrorist organization.”
