Expression Interrupted

Journalists and academics bear the brunt of the massive crackdown on freedom of expression in Turkey. Scores of them are currently subject to criminal investigations or behind bars. This website is dedicated to tracking the legal process against them.

Prosecutor requests sentencing for MA and JinNews employees

Prosecutor requests sentencing for MA and JinNews employees


The court lifted the obligation to sign their names for the 11 journalists standing trial on charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” but kept the international travel ban in place


The fifth hearing in the trial of Mezopotamya Agency (MA) Managing Editor Diren Yurtsever, MA reporters Berivan Altan, Selman Güzelyüz, Hakan Yalçın, Emrullah Acar, Ceylan Şahinli and Zemo Ağgöz, JinNews reporters Habibe Eren and Öznur Değer, former MA intern Mehmet Günhan and journalist Deniz Nazlım on the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” was held at the Ankara 4th High Criminal Court on 25 April 2024. The journalists had been detained on 29 October 2022 as part of an Ankara-based investigation and released on 16 May 2023.


Journalists accused over interviews


Güzelyüz, Nazlım and their lawyer were present at the hearing, which P24 monitored. The hearing was observed by administrators of the Ankara branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD), members of the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD) and representatives of many civil society organizations.


Speaking after identification, the prosecutor said they did not request an extension of inquiry and presented their final opinion on the case. The opinion was based on the statements by secret witness K8Ç4B3LIT5 and witness Kerem Gökalp, and requested sentencing for the journalists. The journalists were accused of carrying out interviews with representatives of the HDP and DEM Party “under instructions” and the prosecutor used the expression “so-called news item.”


The prosecutor requested sentencing of between 7,6 to 15 years of imprisonment on the charge “membership in a terrorist organization” as per article 314/2 of the Turkish Penal Code and article 3-5/1 of the Counterterrorism Law.


Witness Özgür Baran’s claim that JinNews reporter Öznur Değer was an “MA employee” was also included in the opinion.


Journalists Nazlım and Güzelyüz, and lawyers requested time to set up a statement against the opinion.


Lawyer Temur: “There is no causal relation between the claims and the journalists”


Lawyer Resul Temur presented the relevant ruling by the 16th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation to the court and said the following: “The opinion presented by the prosecution should be clear and comprehensible. There should be a connection between the evidence and the defendants. Otherwise, this constitutes a violation of the right to defense. There is no causal relation between the claims and the journalists in the indictment. The prosecution should explain the causal relation. We request that the court ensure this.”


Name-signing obligation lifted


The panel of judges announced its interim order after the defense statement and lifted the judicial control measure of journalists having to sign their name at the police station on a regular basis. The court kept in place the ban on the journalists travelling abroad.


The trial was adjourned until 3 July 2024 to allow time for the final defense statements to be prepared against the prosecutor’s opinion.

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