Şırnak – The mass-hearing of 19 people, including former Dicle News Agency (DİHA) reporter Ziya Ataman, took place today at Şırnak 1st High Criminal Court. The immense number of defendants and small size of the court led to relatives and the press being barred from observing the proceedings.
Of the 19 defendants, nine are in pre-trial detention. Indeed Ataman has been detained since April 11 2016. The proceedings began late, since the court was so crowded, with the replacement of the presiding judge, after which defendants presented their statements of defense. Those in detention did so via the judicial teleconferencing system SEGBİS.
The prosecution requested that those in detention remain there, which was strongly opposed by defense lawyers. The court sided with the prosecution, and then adjourned the hearing until January 17 2019.
Updated: November 29 2018
