Murat Güreş
The trial of journalist İrfan Uçar, detained on Dec. 6, 2024, during a police raid over alleged "membership in a terrorist organization," began at the Gaziantep 2nd High Criminal Court. Uçar, who has been a journalist for 35 years, firmly denied the charges, stating, "I am not a member of any organization; I am a journalist."
Allegations based on interviews, books, and surveillance
The indictment against Uçar cites a TV interview he gave to ROJ TV about the killings of two journalists, books and digital materials seized during the police raid on his home, and testimony from anonymous and open witnesses. It also references two years of phone tapping and surveillance from 2003–2004 as evidence.
Addressing the court, Uçar rejected the claims, emphasizing his extensive career in journalism since 1988. "The statement I gave to ROJ TV about the killings of two journalists contains no irregularities. I know exactly what I said and what I didn’t say," he stated.
Defense of personal materials
Responding to accusations regarding the books found during the raid, Uçar said, "These books were sent to me by publishers because I am a journalist. Some deal with the Kurdish issue and might have been banned, but I never intended to distribute or sell them. They are part of my personal archive, and I request their return."
Uçar also objected to the seizure of his electronic devices, citing journalistic confidentiality. "The authorities confiscated my phone and computer during the raid. I refused to share their passwords to protect my professional privacy. These materials should also be returned," he argued.
Defense attorneys challenge evidence
Lawyers from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) representing Uçar argued that the charges were baseless. "The allegations are abstract and unsupported by concrete evidence. Activities unrelated to criminal acts have been misrepresented as evidence of organizational membership. Numerous rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) affirm that such actions violate press freedom and legal norms," they said.
The defense also demanded the in-person testimony of a witness who alleged seeing Uçar at a camp in 2003–2004, and highlighted the procedural violation of raiding a journalist’s home.
Secret witness testimony questioned
A secret witness testified via video link, stating they did not know whether Uçar acted under organizational orders but speculated that his managerial role at a newspaper might indicate such links. Uçar and his attorneys dismissed the testimony as unreliable.
Court delays case
The court ruled to maintain Uçar's travel ban and requested further information about investigations against him in Gaziantep and Tekirdağ. The court also ordered a subpoena for witness S.S. and asked police to clarify the status of the confiscated digital materials. The trial was adjourned to April 29, 2025.
