Deniz Tekin
Journalist Abdurrahman Gök, detained for 225 days and facing charges of "being a member of an organization" and "making propaganda for an organization," had his request to lift a travel ban denied during the third hearing of his trial on March 11, 2024. The hearing at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court was attended by Gök, his lawyers Resul Temur, Mehmet Emin Aktar, and Emine Özhasar from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) legal team. Journalist Sedat Yılmaz, representatives from the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV), and numerous other journalists observed the proceedings, which were heavily guarded by riot police both inside and outside the courtroom.
Gök, recalling his detailed defense in previous hearings that he is being tried for his journalistic activities, stated, "It became clear in Ümit Akbıyık's testimony in court that his statements about me were false. I am a journalist working in conflict zones. The travel ban feels like a second punishment to me, making me feel imprisoned. I request the lifting of the travel ban."
His lawyers, Temur and Aktar, in turn, demanded the lifting of the travel ban, the provision of the statement of a confidential witness taken during the recess, and the rectification of deficiencies in the case file.
The prosecutor, in his opinion on the merits, called for the rejection of Gök's request to lift the travel ban and for the correction of deficiencies in the case file. The court decided to reject the request to lift the travel ban imposed on Gök, granted time for Gök and his lawyers to prepare their defense against the statements of the confidential witness, and adjourned the next hearing to June 11.
Background of the case
As part of an investigation based in Diyarbakır, journalist Abdurrahman Gök, along with Mehmet Şah Oruç, Mikail Barut, and Beritan Canözer, were detained in house raids conducted on April 25. Journalists Ahmet Kanbal and Murat Bayram, and later detained Hakkı Boltan and Ferhat Çelik, were released under judicial control. Journalist Beritan Canözer was released on June 23.
The Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office prepared an indictment against detained journalist Gök, accusing him of "being a member of an organization" and "making propaganda for an organization."
The indictment cited news articles and book promotions published by the Mezopotamya Agency, books found in Gök's library, social security records showing his insurance was paid by the agency, phone conversations with other journalists, and social media posts and book promotions related to news content as evidence of the alleged crimes.
Among the cited news reports was an article by Gök about a letter written to then-Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül, requesting the release of a prisoner. Among the books considered as criminal evidence was "Dağdakiler: Bagok'tan Gabar'a 26 Gün" ("Those in the Mountains: 26 Days from Bagok to Gabar") written by journalist Kadri Gürsel.
