The nine-year-long trial of Vice News journalists Jake Hanrahan and Philip Pendlebury reached a new phase after the Diyarbakır 8th High Criminal Court referred the case file to the prosecutor’s office for a final opinion. The journalists, detained while filming a documentary in Turkey's southeast in 2015, face charges alongside their translator and guide.
Court developments and defense statements
During the 21st hearing, the defendants, who are not in custody, did not attend, but their lawyers were present. Defense attorneys previously challenged translation errors in the defendants' testimonies. They stated they would present their defense after the corrected translations are added to the case file.
The court authorized the prosecution to prepare its final opinion, which will be shared with the defense team. The court also granted additional time for the defense to respond. The next hearing is scheduled for March 17, 2024.
Background of the case
Hanrahan and Pendlebury were arrested on Aug. 28, 2015, while filming in Diyarbakır during curfews imposed amid clashes in Cizre, Silopi, Nusaybin, and Sur districts. They were detained along with their translator, Mohammed Ismael Rasool, and a local guide. The journalists faced accusations of "knowingly and willingly aiding a terrorist organization" and were sent to Adana F-Type Prison. The British journalists were released and deported shortly after, while Rasool was freed on Jan. 4, 2016.
Charges and potential sentences
The indictment charges the defendants with "membership in a terrorist organization," "aiding a terrorist organization," "violating the law on the prevention of terrorist financing," and "spreading terrorist propaganda." They face potential sentences ranging from 15 to 67 years in prison. Evidence cited includes cash found on the journalists, footage from their documentary, and news notes.
Broader implications
The case highlights ongoing concerns about press freedom in Turkey, particularly for journalists covering sensitive issues in the country’s southeast. International media organizations and human rights groups have criticized the prolonged legal proceedings and the use of anti-terror laws to prosecute journalists.
