Journalist Ziya Ataman’s trial adjourned until September
Şırnak – Eighth hearing of the trial where since shuttered Dicle News Agency (DİHA) reporter Ziya Ataman faces “disrupting the unity and integrity of the state” charges was held before the Şırnak 1st High Criminal Court today. Ataman, whom MLSA represents in court, has been detained since April 11th, 2016.
Ataman is imprisoned in Van High Security Closed Prison and attended the hearing via SEGBİS video-conference link from there. Due to a malfunction in SEGBİS, Ataman could attend the hearing 30 minutes late. Ataman’s defense lawyer was present in the courtroom in Şırnak.
The prosecutor delivered the opinion as to the merits during this hearing and demanded Ataman to be punished for “disrupting the unity and integrity of the state” (Penal Code Article 302).
The court told Ataman that he has to provide the translator himself if he wants to present his defense in Kurdish in the next hearing.
Ataman's lawyer noted that the court shall provide this service pursuant to the right to a fair trial and requested her client to be brought before the court in person for the next hearing.
Following a short recess, the court announced its interim decision and rejected all requests made by Ataman's lawyers. The trial is adjourned until September 24th, 2019.