DENİZ TEKİN
The retrial of journalist Mehmet Şahin, accused of "membership in a terrorist organization," was adjourned by the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court to determine whether the case should be merged with another ongoing trial at the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court. The adjournment follows a regional court's decision to overturn Şahin's prior conviction, citing potential connections between cases.
Case background
Mehmet Şahin, who is also a writer for the Kurdish-language newspaper Xwebûn, had been sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison on charges stemming from his participation in Democratic Society Congress (DTK) meetings focusing on the Kurdish language. The allegations included attending general assemblies, workshops, and rallies organized by DTK, as well as making speeches in Kurdish.
Şahin’s conviction was based on a range of evidence, including public statements, participation in demonstrations, membership in the Kurdish Education and Language Movement (TZP Kurdî), phone communications, and testimony from secret witnesses.
The Diyarbakır Regional Court of Justice overturned the original verdict in 2022, instructing the lower court to evaluate whether Şahin’s case should be merged with a related trial of 20 journalists being heard at the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court.
Developments in the retrial
At the December 18 hearing, Şahin and his lawyer, Resul Temur, appeared in court. Temur requested that information regarding a parallel investigation by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, where 10 journalists were recently detained, be included in the case file.
The presiding judge noted that the Ankara case appears closed in the national judiciary database (UYAP) but agreed to verify its status. The prosecution requested time to address gaps in the case file.
Court orders further inquiries
The court ruled to:
- Request details on the status of the Ankara investigation involving Şahin.
- Evaluate whether Şahin’s case should be merged with the ongoing trial at the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court.
The next hearing is scheduled for April 10, 2025.
Implications
Mehmet Şahin’s case highlights concerns over the use of anti-terrorism laws to prosecute journalists and participants in civil society. Observers have criticized such trials for criminalizing professional and linguistic advocacy, as well as public engagement in Kurdish cultural and political issues.
