- The first hearing was held in the case in which JINNEWS News Director Öznur Değer and former Managing Editor of Yeni Yaşam Newspaper Osman Akın are being tried on the allegation of “targeting individuals who have taken part in counterterrorism efforts” due to a news report regarding a raid in Nusaybin.
- Making a defense statement at the hearing held at the Mardin 2nd High Criminal Court, Değer stated that the news was made within the scope of journalistic activity and said, “I do not accept the accusations.”
Medine Mamedoğlu
Mardin – The first hearing was held in the case filed against JINNEWS News Director Öznur Değer and former Managing Editor of Yeni Yaşam Newspaper Osman Akın due to their news report concerning the allegation that torture occurred during a raid carried out on July 16, 2024 on a house in the rural Marînê Neighborhood of Nusaybin district.
The hearing of the case, opened on the allegation of “targeting individuals who have taken part in counterterrorism efforts,” was held at the Mardin 2nd High Criminal Court. Değer was present at the hearing, while Akın did not attend. Değer’s lawyers Erdal Kuzu, Ali Kahraman and Berivan Orhan, Co-Chair of the Mardin Branch of the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD), were also present at the hearing.
After the identification process, the presiding judge read the summary of the indictment and conveyed the documents that had arrived in the file. Then he gave the floor to Değer to make her defense statement.
In her defense statement, Değer said: “The incident that is the subject of the file is a journalistic activity. I received information that a raid was carried out by the gendarmerie on the village called Marînê and that villagers were subjected to torture. Upon this, I went to the village, obtained information about the incident in the meetings I held and conducted interviews. Through open source research, I learned that the name of the Kızıltepe Gendarmerie Commander was Kamil Aksoy. There were statements that he inflicted physical torture on women and threatened sexual assault. Within this scope, citizens obtained assault reports; the reports included traces of torture. I carried out journalistic activity.”
During Değer’s defense statement, the presiding judge asked whether Aksoy’s photograph was used in the news report. Değer continued her defense as follows:
“I also used his photograph in the news report. Kamil Aksoy’s photograph is already accessible in open sources. For this reason, the allegation of ‘targeting’ does not reflect the truth. My aim was to fulfill my professional activity; I do not have any other purpose as alleged. I do not accept the accusations.”
Afterwards, lawyer Erdal Kuzu, who made a defense statement, said that his client had a press card she received from the institution where she works and cards belonging to journalism professional organizations of which she is a member.
Kuzu said, “My client’s act does not constitute a crime. The news was made within the scope of press freedom and with the aim of informing the public. My client’s intent is to inform the public; it is not to target a person. There is no evidence in the file that she had a special intent in this direction. The elements of the crime have not been formed. As a matter of fact, upon the complaint of some victims regarding the incident that occurred in Eskihisar village, an investigation was initiated by the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. This also shows that the news is in the public interest.”
Lawyer Ali Kahraman and Berivan Orhan also stated that Değer carried out journalistic activity and that the news and posts did not constitute elements of a crime.
After the defense statements, the court panel gave a recess to the hearing. After the recess, the court adjourned the hearing to May 21.
