EYLEM SONBAHAR
A Turkish prosecutor has called for prison sentences for nine individuals — including seven journalists — who were charged with “making terrorist propaganda” and violating the law on public assemblies after attempting to hold a press statement in Istanbul to protest the killing of two journalists in Syria.
The third hearing of the case took place at the Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court, where journalists Hayri Tunç, Gülistan Dursun, Pınar Gayıp, Serpil Ünal, Can Papila, Muhammet Enes Sezgin, and Osman Akın, along with two others, are accused of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” and “failing to disperse after warnings at an unauthorized, nonviolent assembly,” under Article 2911 of Turkey’s Law on Meetings and Demonstrations.
The charges stem from a protest the group attempted to hold in Istanbul’s Şişhane district in response to the deaths of journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, who were killed in Syria while covering news events.
The defendants were taken into custody on Dec. 21 and formally arrested the next day. On Jan. 31, 2025, the court ordered the release of all nine.
Although the journalists did not attend Thursday's hearing, their lawyers were present. One police officer, testifying as a witness, said the group had gathered despite a ban issued by the Beyoğlu district governor’s office. “We repeated the ban during our warnings. Detentions took place in two different areas, but I don’t remember exactly where I was. After warnings were issued, they did not disperse and continued chanting slogans. Some people in the group also attempted to attack with shields,” the officer said.
Defense attorney Şükrü Alpsoy asked the officer at what stage the identities of the detained individuals were recorded. The officer responded, “We take their IDs before putting them in the vehicle, but I don’t remember exactly.”
Another police officer testified, “There was a ban from the district governor that day. We had taken security precautions due to calls on social media. They made public calls in the area, chanted slogans, and tried to march. We did not allow it. Our colleagues made announcements three times using sound equipment. After they refused to disperse, we made arrests.”
Presenting his final opinion, the prosecutor requested that each of the nine defendants be convicted separately for “making terrorist propaganda” and “participating in an unauthorized, unarmed demonstration and failing to disperse despite warnings.”
Defense lawyers requested time to prepare their statements in response to the prosecutor’s final opinion. The court granted the request and adjourned the hearing to Oct. 2 at 11:30 a.m.
