A Turkish court on April 16 acquitted and ordered the release of journalist Velat Ekin in the first hearing of his trial, where he was charged with “membership in an armed terrorist organization.”
Ekin was detained during house raids on January 17 as part of a broader investigation centered in Istanbul, and had been held in pre-trial detention since January 20. His case was heard at the Istanbul 23rd High Criminal Court.
The hearing began three hours late. Ekin, who had been held at the Marmara High Security Prison, appeared in court under gendarmerie escort.
Accusations based on internship and press card
In his defense statement, Ekin said he had interned at the Mezopotamya Agency while still a student, and that a press card issued to him during that period had been included in the indictment as alleged evidence. “Two months before I was arrested, I took over Güncel Prodüksiyon, a media company. I didn’t even have time to start working properly. I reject the accusations and request my acquittal,” he told the court.
Responding to a question from the presiding judge about whether he had provided content to Medya Haber TV—a channel often targeted by Turkish authorities for its pro-Kurdish content—Ekin replied, “No, I did not.”
When asked to provide an additional defense statement on the separate charge of “aiding a terrorist organization,” Ekin rejected the accusation and again requested both his acquittal and release.
Lawyer criticizes lack of concrete evidence
Ekin’s lawyer, Sidar Perçin, argued that the indictment baselessly claimed his client was an official representative of Medya Haber TV. “According to the definition of authority, there must be some role or responsibility. The indictment provides no argument regarding any such role. He is a journalist. The indictment includes a press card belonging to the agency, but not the news stories he actually produced. We request his acquittal and release,” the attorney said.
Despite these arguments, the prosecutor submitted the final opinion calling for Ekin to be convicted of “membership in an armed organization” and to remain in detention.
However, the court ultimately ruled that the elements of the alleged crime had not been met and acquitted Ekin of all charges, ordering his immediate release.
Background
Journalists in Turkey, particularly those affiliated with Kurdish media outlets like the Mezopotamya Agency or Medya Haber TV, have frequently faced criminal charges under anti-terror laws. Press freedom groups have criticized Turkish authorities for using such charges to silence dissent and independent journalism, especially in relation to Kurdish political issues.
