Deniz Tekin, Bitlis - Uğur Yılmaz, who has spent 16 months in pre-trial detention, appeared in court for the first time to face terrorism charges. Bitlis 2nd High Criminal Court chose to keep Yılmaz detained and adjourn the case until December 11.
Yılmaz was working for Bitlis Municipality Press Unit at the time of his arrest on July 17 2017, and was accused of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorist propaganda”. Some witness statements, Yılmaz’s alleged social media posts and his reporting on several press statements and demonstrations were presented as evidence by the prosecution during today’s hearing. The prosecution is seeking a prison sentence of 9 ½ to 25 years.
Yılmaz appearing in court via the judicial teleconferencing system SEGBİS from Elazığ Prison, which led to the hearing being delayed after SEGBİS malfunctioned. Yılmaz was represented by three lawyers, including Zelal Pelin Doğan from the Media and Law Studies Assocation’s Legal Unit.
Yılmaz provided a full-throated defense of his work. “My profession is journalism. I have worked for Bitlis Municipality Press Unit. I had been working there since 2013, when I was dismissed by a governmental decree in 2017. I reject all accusations and witness statements against myself. They are not reflecting the truth. I am not a member of any organization and I have never aided one. I never met a member of an organization whilst I worked as a journalist either.”
At that point the presiding judge interrupted Yılmaz to ask whether he was present at the Ölek Cemetery. Yılmaz responded he had been there to photograph the co-mayors of Bitlis. The judge inquired what photos he took and why the mayors had been there. “They were there to attend a funeral. As a journalist, I photographed them there.”
Yılmaz then defended his presence at the demonstrations and press statements which the prosecution allege indicate his terrorist sympathies. “I followed them because I was a journalist at the municipal press unit. I have never carried a banner during the press statements. As you can see in the photos, I have my camera in my hand, and the press card in my pocket that I was very used to having. I was there as a journalist. I never carried a banner or shouted any slogans.” Yılmaz went on to say that the social media accounts mentioned in the indictment were not his and that his only online presence was a website named BitlisPortal.com.
Yılmaz went on to attack the veracity of the witness statements made against him. “The statement of the anonymous witness consists of lies and conspiracy. I would like to know whom he thinks that I was delivering the letters and cargo to. I will file a lawsuit against this anonymous witness. My phone was tapped for 2 months and nothing linked me with any organization. No evidence was found when my house was raided. I did not commit a crime. There is no evidence in the indictment that I can spoliate. I have been in detention based on abstract claims. I would have run away if I wanted to before I was arrested.”
In a final plea, Yılmaz sought release from detention on humanitarian grounds. “My eyesight is getting worse every day. The medical drugs are not working anymore, the conditions here in Elazığ Prison are very restricted. I request my release.”
Yılmaz’s statement was followed by the testimony of an anonymous witness who retracted his prior witness statement. “I do not know the defendant. I have never seen him before… I was under drug influence when I signed those documents.”
Doğan, Yılmaz’s lawyer, argued that Yılmaz’s 16 month pre-trial imprisonment and appearance in court via SEGBİS represent a violation of his right to a fair trial.
The Court chose to keep Yilmaz in detention and adjourned the hearing until December 11.
Updated: November 29 2018
