EYLEM SONBAHAR
Journalist Zeynep Kuray, charged with "making propaganda for a terrorist organization" based on social media posts from 2014 to 2023, defended herself at the first hearing of her trial at the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court. Represented by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), Kuray emphasized that the case is about press freedom and expression, not propaganda.
Kuray defends journalism and free expression
"This is not a propaganda case," Kuray declared during her defense. "This is about journalism and freedom of expression." She argued that the posts cited in the indictment reflect her role as a journalist rather than any affiliation with illegal activities.
As Kuray and her lawyer, Didare Hazal Sümeli, from the MLSA, sought to review the specific posts referenced in the indictment, they requested additional time to prepare their defense.
Court grants adjournment
The court accepted the request for more time and postponed the hearing to March 4, 2025, at 11:45 a.m.
Case background
The trial highlights the ongoing scrutiny of journalists in Turkey, where social media activity has frequently been used as evidence in legal actions. Rights advocates view cases like Kuray’s as emblematic of broader concerns about press freedom and the criminalization of journalistic practices under the guise of combating propaganda.
