July 4, 2024
Aziz Oruç
Journalists from MA and JinNews sentenced to a total of 50 years in prison criticized the verdict, claiming that it aims to silence the press and keep the public uninformed. The eight journalists were convicted of "membership in a terrorist organization," while three others were acquitted.
During the final hearing of the trial, held at the Ankara 4th High Criminal Court, the convicted journalists expressed their discontent with the court's decision. MA reporter Selman Güzelyüz, responding to the verdict on social media with a wedding photo, sarcastically remarked, "A wedding gift of 6 years and 3 months in prison." Other journalists, including MA Managing Editor Diren Yurtsever, MA reporter Hakan Yalçın, and JinNews reporter Öznur Değer, spoke to the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) about their ordeal.
Öznur Değer: Judiciary as a tool of intimidation
Öznur Değer highlighted that the judiciary is playing an intimidating role in response to Turkey's unresolved Kurdish issue. She recounted how ten Kurdish journalists were arrested on October 29, 2022, as part of an Ankara-based investigation, and despite nine being released after the initial hearing on May 16, 2023, the biased nature of the judiciary was apparent in the final decision. Değer asserted that the conviction, without any concrete evidence, blatantly disregards legal principles.
Değer stated, "Journalists worldwide do not face the level of pressure, censorship, violence, and judicial threats that we experience in Turkey. We will continue to uphold the honorable legacy of figures like Apê Musa and Gurbettelli Ersöz and voice the ‘forbidden.’ The public must clearly oppose this system that deprives society of the right to free information. Free press cannot be silenced."
Diren Yurtsever: Professional activities criminalized
Diren Yurtsever described the verdict as a legal scandal, noting that all professional journalistic activities, including reporting, programming, and social media posts, were criminalized in their case. She emphasized the contradiction of their sentencing under laws that supposedly protect press freedom.
Hakan Yalçın: Continuing to be the voice of the people
Hakan Yalçın viewed the sentences as an attempt to intimidate and deter journalists from their work. He affirmed their commitment to expose the government's and the state's wrongful, anti-democratic practices, despite the harsh penalties, asserting, "Even if we were sentenced to 66 years, we would continue to write the truth."
Background
On October 29, 2022, journalists from the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) and JinNews were detained as part of an Ankara-centered investigation. Released on May 16, 2023, the trial's final hearing saw the Ankara 4th High Criminal Court acquit Habibe Eren, Ceylan Şahinli, and Mehmet Günhan. However, the court sentenced Diren Yurtsever, Deniz Nazlım, Berivan Altan, Selman Güzelyüz, Hakan Yalçın, Emrullah Acar, Zemo Ağgöz, and Öznur Değer to six years and three months each for "membership in a terrorist organization."
