In the trial in which Hakkı Boltan, owner of Aram Publishing House, and his employee Delil Zengeralp are facing the charges of “terrorism propaganda,” the prosecutor has requested an extension for them to complete their final opinion on the case

ARDIL BATMAZ, DIYARBAKIR

The third hearing in the case, which was filed against publisher Hakkı Boltan and employee Delil Zengeralp on charges of “terrorism propaganda” following the seizure of two books at the Aram Publishing House booth during the TÜYAP Book Fair held at the Diyarbakır Mesopotamia International Fair and Congress Center in 2024, was held at the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court on 14 April 2026.

Boltan and Zengeralp did not attend the hearing, which was monitored by P24, but their lawyer, Resul Temur, was present.

At the second hearing on 9 January, the prosecutor had requested additional time to prepare their final opinion on the case. The prosecutor again requested an extension.

The court granted the request and postponed the case until 16 July 2026.

Background of the case

During a book fair held on 30 November 2024, at the Mesopotamia International Fair and Congress Center in the Yenişehir district of Diyarbakır, law enforcement officers conducted a general inspection. During the inspection, it was alleged that the book “Dildare Serkeftina” (Lovers of Success) by Mahmut Aba, located at the Aram Publications stand, contained “content constituting propaganda for PKK/KCK terrorist organization.” The Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation against Delil Zengeralp, an employee of the publishing house present at the stand. Thirteen books at the stand were seized by order of the Diyarbakır 3rd Criminal Court of Peace on 3 December 2024.

On 4 December 2024, law enforcement officers conducting a general inspection at the Aram Yayınları stand at the fair again seized the book “Efrin Direniş Günlüğü” (Efrin Resistance Diary) was found to allegedly contain “content constituting propaganda for PKK/KCK terrorist organization,” and the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into Delil Zengeralp, an employee of the publishing house at the stand. Six books at the stand were seized by order of the Diyarbakır 3rd Criminal Court of Peace on December 5, 2024.

The indictment prepared by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that Hatip Dicle had left the country in 2016 and that Mahmut Aba's identity could not be determined. The indictment requested that Hakkı Boltan, the owner of the publishing house, and his employee Delil Zengeralp, who were found criminally liable under Article 11/4 of Press Law No. 5187 due to the inability to identify the authors/their location abroad, be tried on charges of “terrorism propaganda."