NİMET ÖLMEZ
Five journalists, detained in İzmir in February on charges of "membership in a terrorist organization," have yet to receive an indictment nine months after their arrest. Among them is Semra Turan, news director of Mezopotamya Agency (MA), whose testimony was recently taken again, while the indictment against Fatma Funda Akbulut, a press worker for the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), was rejected by the court.
Semra Turan, reporters Delal Akyüz and Tolga Güney, JINNEWS reporter Melike Aydın, Gazete Duvar reporter Cihan Başakçıoğlu, and Akbulut were detained on February 13, 2023. While the case against Başakçıoğlu was dismissed, the others remain under judicial restrictions. Turan and Başakçıoğlu are required to sign in at a police station twice a week, while Akyüz, Güney, Aydın, and Akbulut have been placed under house arrest.
Money transfers among colleagues questioned
Turan was questioned again by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on October 12, 2023. The prosecutor inquired about money transfers between Turan, her colleagues, and her family, implying potential links to illegal activity. In her statement, Turan clarified that she is the İzmir bureau chief of Mezopotamya Agency and that the salaries of her colleagues were deposited into her account before she distributed them. She emphasized that sending and receiving money from family and friends is natural and cannot be used as evidence of a crime.
Indictment against Akbulut rejected due to jurisdiction issues
The indictment against Fatma Funda Akbulut was submitted to the 18th High Criminal Court of İzmir, accusing her of "membership in a terrorist organization." However, the court rejected the indictment, citing that the charge of "financing terrorism" was more appropriate. The case has now been transferred to the 2nd High Criminal Court, which is reviewing the file. If the indictment is accepted, a trial date will be set.
Participation in press conferences deemed criminal
The indictment against Akbulut includes testimony from an informant, Buse Aslan, and lists press conferences Akbulut attended and filmed as part of her work as crimes. These events include statements made by the İzmir Women’s Platform and the Free Women’s Movement (TJA), as well as commemorations of figures like Nagehan Akarsel and the anniversary of the Gezi protests. Five phone calls and minor money transfers—totaling less than 10,000 TL—were also cited as evidence. Additionally, books and magazines found in her home, such as issues of Jineoloji and Kürt Siyasetinin Mor Rengi, were included in the indictment.
"I have been confined to a 70-square-meter space for nine months"
Akbulut criticized her house arrest, stating that the judicial control measures have gone far beyond their intended purpose, turning into a form of punishment. She explained that the indictment was sent to the 18th High Criminal Court but was then transferred to the 2nd High Criminal Court due to jurisdiction issues, prolonging her confinement. "My lawyers can’t even find someone to address our request to lift the house arrest. This process has been dragging on, and house arrest is not even considered imprisonment by prosecutors and judges, so it’s being ignored. I have been confined to a 70-square-meter space for nine months. I can’t even take out the trash. This injustice needs to end, and a trial date must be set soon," Akbulut said.
The delays in completing the indictments and the ongoing restrictions on the journalists have raised concerns about the prolonged legal process and the treatment of journalists working in Kurdish media.
