Court rejects the defense’s request for acquittal and rules to keep the international travel ban in place

ARDIL BATMAZ, DİYARBAKIR

The third hearing in the trial of Mezopotamya news agency (MA) editor Abdurrahman Gök on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorism propaganda” was held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court on 12 March 2024.

P24 monitored the hearing, attended by Gök and his lawyers Resul Temur, Mehmet Emin Aktar and Emine Özhasar.

Speaking first at the hearing, Gök said he was on trial for his journalistic activities. Gök said that during the trial process, it was revealed that witness Ümit Akbıyık’s statements were untrue and added that as someone who practices journalism in zones of conflict, the ban on him traveling abroad prevented him from practicing his profession. Gök requested the lifting of the ban on traveling abroad and his acquittal.

Speaking afterwards, Gök’s lawyers said that acquittal verdicts had been rendered in similar trials and requested the lifting of the ban on traveling abroad as well as additional time to set up a statement against the statements of the secret witness who had testified against Gök. The prosecutor asked the court to reject the defense’s request for the lifting of Gök's travel ban.

The court granted the defense time to prepare their statements in response to the testimony of the secret witness and ruled to keep the travel ban on Gök in place. The court set 11 June 2024 as the date for the next hearing.

Background of the case

Abdurrahman Gök was detained on 25 April 2023 as part of an investigation launched by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and was arrested and sent to prison two days later on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorism propaganda.” Gök, who photographed the shooting and killing of university student Kemal Kurkut during Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakır in 2017, has also faced cases and investigations on “terrorism” charges other than the case that led to his arrest. At the end of his second hearing held on 5 December 2023, the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court ruled to release Gök under a ban on traveling abroad.