The tenth hearing in the trial of 19 journalists, who were detained in June 2022 as part of an investigation based in Diyarbakır (Amed) and of whom 16 remained in pre-trial detention for more than a year, will be held tomorrow at the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court. The journalists, who are being tried on charges of “membership in an organization” and “making propaganda for an organization,” have had their requests to lift the judicial control measure of a travel ban rejected without justification for more than three years.
Resul Tamur, one of the lawyers in the case, told Mezopotamya Agency (MA) that the travel ban imposed on journalists not only restricts their freedom of movement but also constitutes a serious obstacle to their journalistic activities.
Judicial control measure is disproportionate
Resul Tamur recalled that, as in every hearing, their requests to lift the travel ban were also rejected at the last hearing held on 20 January and noted that the court has so far provided no justification for this decision. Tamur said: “We can clearly say that the decision is disproportionate, as it lacks any reasoning and has no identifiable basis. In addition, the absence of any time limit for the continuation of this measure constitutes a separate problem. We are now facing an indefinite travel ban or an indefinite judicial control measure. These decisions continue in an uncertain manner, with no clarity as to how long they will last. Their uncertain, disproportionate and indefinite nature clearly obstructs the professional activities of journalists and places them in a position of victimization.”
Tamur stated that they will once again request the lifting of the judicial control measure at tomorrow’s hearing. He said: “This request is aimed both at ensuring that journalists are not prevented from carrying out their professional activities and at safeguarding the public’s right to receive information. We hope that this decision will be lifted at the next hearing.”
Journalists are being pressured through trials
Journalist Ömer Çelik, who was held in pre-trial detention for 13 months within the same case file, drew attention to the long-standing use of legal threats against journalists in Turkey, noting that Kurdish journalists are among the primary targets. He told MA that Kurdish journalists have for years been subjected to pressure through trials and investigations.
Çelik underlined that the case in which they are being tried is based on programs, reports and street interviews addressing the Kurdish question. He said: “Addressing the Kurdish question, which affects everyone, has been framed by the judiciary as acting on organizational instructions, and a case has been filed against 19 journalists on this basis. This judicial pressure continues. Today, the state itself has placed the Kurdish question on its agenda, engaging in direct contact and meetings with organization leaders and even establishing a parliamentary commission to discuss how the issue can be resolved. While moving in this direction, the continued prosecution of Kurdish journalists for covering the Kurdish question in their programs becomes an absurd situation. This clearly shows that the prosecution we are facing is linked to state policy.”
Çelik said that “if the current stage represents a move toward resolving the Kurdish question, it would be possible to say that this case has effectively lost its basis,” and added: “However, this has not yet happened, and the trial continues. Our expectation is that this case will be fully terminated, but we do not see such an intention, willingness or effort within the judiciary. At the very least, the court could issue decisions such as lifting the travel bans imposed on journalists. Why is this important? In order to carry out this profession in a broad sense, those opportunities must also be expanded. Today, there is an ongoing war in the Middle East, right next to us, in Iran. In order to follow these developments on the ground, such bans should not exist.”
No Kurdish journalist intends to leave the country
Çelik continued: “Kurdish journalists have been tried for years under similar case files. No Kurdish journalist intends to leave this country because of the reports, practices, or programs that are subject to these accusations. What keeps us here is not the travel ban. We are here because we want to be here and continue producing these reports; because we feel responsibility toward society and the public. What keeps Kurdish journalists here today is not the travel bans imposed by courts, but the belief in remaining here. In other words, it is the sense of responsibility they feel toward their work.”
Çelik concluded: “Therefore, while we act with this sense of responsibility today and point toward solutions to Turkey’s problems, particularly the Kurdish question as the most fundamental one, the judiciary must also fulfill its responsibility in this regard. First and foremost, this case file should be entirely dismissed; if that is not done, then at the very least the travel bans imposed on them must be lifted without delay.”
Press freedom is being obstructed
Journalist Serdar Altan, who was released after 13 months in detention within the same case file, pointed to the Peace and Democratic Society Process and said: “The efforts carried out by Abdullah Öcalan both to establish social peace and to ensure democracy in society also mean the resolution of problems in many areas. One of these is freedom of the press, thought, and expression. While we expected problems to be resolved after this process began, this has not happened.”
Altan drew attention to the fact that journalists continue to be obstructed during this process and are subjected to intense censorship. He said: “This censorship, in its entirety, ‘terrorizes’ society, prevents journalists from expressing their views, from reporting, and blocks the public’s right to access information. This has turned into a serious violation of rights for journalists.”
Altan stated that, as journalists, they are experiencing the consequences of the travel ban and that their freedom to report is being hindered, calling for this injustice to be remedied as soon as possible.
Leave a Reply