Academic in solidarity with Özgür Gündem newspaper sentenced to prison

Those who participated in the ‘Editor-in-Chief on Watch’ campaign against the crackdown on Özgür Gündem newspaper continue to be targeted by the judiciary.

Academic Beyza Üstün was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison for showing solidarity against the crackdown on Özgür Gündem.

The hearing of the lawsuit filed against Üstün, who took over the one-day editor-in-chief of the newspaper as part of the campaign was held at Istanbul Courthouse 13th High Criminal Court. She is accused of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, meaning the PKK.

Beyza Üstün did not attend the verdict hearing, where she was represented by her lawyer, Oya Meriç Eyüboğlu. The prosecution repeated the previous hearing’s final opinion that she should be sentenced to imprisonment on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.

Beyza Üstün’s lawyer once again asked for her client’s acquittal.

The court sentenced Beyza Üstün to 1 year and 3 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.

The court decided to defer the announcement of the verdict.