VAN - Represantatives of journalistic organizations calling for solidarity with the journalist at the first hearing of the case against them said: "Let's protect our colleagues. It will be journalism we protect."

 

The first hearing of the law suit against Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reporters Cemil Uğur and Adnan Bilen, Jinnews reporters Şehriban Abi and journalist Nazan Sala will be held in Van 5th High Criminal Court on April 2. MA reporter Zeynep Durgut is also on trial without arrest. The five journalists were arrested on October 9, 2020 after breaking the stroy about Osman Şiban and Servet Turgut, two villagers thrown out of a military helicopter by soldiers in the Çatak district of Van. The five journalists are accused of 'being a member of a terrorist organization'. Nazan Sala is also accused of 'propagandizing a terrorist organization'.

 

In the 14 page indictment, the journalists are accused of 'publishing provocative content against the state' which underlines that the agency does not publish magazine news, sports etc. The journalistic materials confiscated from their homes are considered to be evidences of a crime.

 

Representatives of press organizations called for solidarity with the journalists on trial at the court hearing, which is also closely followed by the public.

 

MKGP: WE WILL NOT GIVE UP OUR GAINS

 

Mesopotamia Women Journalists Platform (MKGP) Spokesperson Ayşe Güney noted that those who act with the principles of journalism are tried to be intimidated by detentions and arrests. Pointing out that this policy, which has been tried for years, has not yielded any results, Güney said: "We are not afraid of paying the price for telling the truth. We will not give up sticking to the facts. In the person of our two women colleagues, Kurdish female journalists are on trial. They are targeting the gains of the women. Just like we are fighting for İstanbul Convention, we will not stop defending our gains in the field of the press."

 

Stating that they will be in Van following the hearing, Güney called for solidarity with the journalists on trial.

 

DFG: JOURNALISM IS ON TRIAL

 

Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) Co-chair Serdar Altan reminded that the journalists were arrested for breaking the news about two villagers thrown from a military helicopter by the soldiers and told that this is a disgrace. Altan said: "Journalism is not a crime. Making news is not a crime. Lookign at the indictment, we see that journalism is on trial. Journalism is being criminalized. Everyone should be in that court room on April 2 in solidarity with our colleagues and make sure people can do their job without fears of repercussion.

 

BASIN İŞ: JOURNALISTS DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE

 

Ali Ergin Demirhan, a member of the Executive Board of Press Workers Union affiliated to the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions (DISK), stated that they learned what happened to Servet Turgut and Osman Şiban thanks to these reporters. Demirhan said: "This is what these journalists are accused of. Making us hear about an incident that is kept from us. So the real crime here is journalism. Journalism is being targeted. We say once more that journalism is not a crime and demand our colleagues to be released immediately."

 

CALL TO INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 

 

Calling on to the international institutions to be in solidarity with the journalists on April 2, Demirhan said: "We need to be together and make each other do not feel alone. Otherwise we can not do our jobs."

 

'LET'S PROTECT OUR COLLEAGUES'

 

Turkey Journalists Union (TGS) Chair Gökhan Durmuş said: "It is ridiculous that they say 'they do not do magazine news and insist on writing about social incidents'. This is a joke. I hope they will be released at the hearing and Turkey's democracy and law gets rid of this disgrace."

 

MA / Müjdat Can