MLSA Journalist Delal Akyüz, a reporter for the Mesopotamia Agency (MA), is being retried on charges of "knowingly and willingly aiding an organization" following an overturn of the previous verdict by the Supreme Court. The case resumed at the İzmir 20th High Criminal Court. Represented by lawyers from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) and the Association for Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), Akyüz could not attend the hearing due to being under house arrest related to another investigation.
The court was unable to record Akyüz's defense statement against the charges during this session. The hearing has been postponed to November 5.
On February 13, in İzmir, during a raid on several homes, Akyüz was one of six journalists detained. Digital materials were seized and she was released under house arrest. The decision for house arrest was challenged by lawyers from ÖHD and MLSA at the İzmir 4th Criminal Judgeship of Peace. In their appeal, the attorneys emphasized that the charges against Akyüz were related to her journalistic activities and should be protected under press freedom. The appeal also highlighted that the accusations largely rely on the statements of a witness whose credibility is disputable and inconsistent with other cases. Furthermore, it was argued that the decision violated principles set by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding freedom of expression and the role of the press in a democratic society, stressing that journalistic activities should not be criminalized.
