An İstanbul court has ruled to await the execution of the order for journalist Cihan Ölmez’s arrest, and adjourned the trial until 2 May 2023

ÖZKAN KÜÇÜK, DİYARBAKIR

The fifth hearing in the trial of journalist Cihan Ölmez on charges of “terrorism propaganda” over his statements regarding the curfews imposed in 2015 and 2016 was held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court on 22 November 2022.

Ölmez, against whom an arrest warrant has been issued as well as his lawyer did not attend the hearing, which P24 monitored. The hearing was held in the office of the secretary of the court.

The court ruled to await the execution of the previously issued order for Ölmez’s arrest so that his statement could be taken. Accepting the excuse presented by Ölmez’s lawyer, the court adjourned the trial until 2 May 2023.

Background of the case

In the indictment against Ölmez prepared over his social media posts of interviews he gave on the curfews to the Evrenselnewspaper, Demokrat Haber and bianet, Evrensel and bianet had been described as “so-called press organizations that back the PKK/KCK terrorist organization.”

At the first hearing held in July 2021, Ölmez’s statement could not be taken as his lawyer Filiz Ölmez was not present. Although his lawyer requested Ölmez’s statement to be taken through letter rogatory at the next hearing, the court had issued an order for Ölmez’s arrest for his statement to be taken.