The final hearing of the lawsuit filed against Dicle Müftüoğlu, co-chair of Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) and editor of Mezopotamya Agency (MA), on charges of “being a member of a terrorist organization” and “establishing and leading a terrorist organization” due to her professional activities, was held at Diyarbakır 5th Assize Court. Müftüoğlu, who was released on February 29, 2024 after 10 months of imprisonment, and her lawyer Resul Temur were present at the hearing. 

 

Mezopotamya Women Journalists' Association (MKG), DFG Co-Chair Selman Çiçek, Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), Human Rights Watch (HRW), DİSK Basın-İş Chair Turgut Dedeoğlu, Southeastern Journalists' Association (GGC) Chair Ferat Bozarslan, Turkish Journalists' Union (TGS) Chair Gökhan Durmuş, Norwegian PEN and many other journalists watched the hearing. 

 

Müftüoğlu made a defense against the allegations against her and reminded that she was arrested for 10 months and was being tried for her journalistic activities. Pointing to the prosecution's final opinion in the previous hearing demanding her sentence for “being a member of a terrorist organization”, Müftüoğlu stated that she has been an active journalist for 15 years and continues her profession. Underlining that she was the co-chair of the press professional organization DFG, “In recent years, I have been a journalist who has spoken out and fought for freedom of the press and freedom of expression, especially through the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association. I have been defending freedom of the press and freedom of expression with my work for 15 years. With my news, I have tried to make the voices of murdered women, young people whose futures were stolen, miners who were fired from their jobs for being unionized,” she said.   

 

'I CONFUTED THE ALLEGATIONS'

 

Explaining that the allegations were confuted in her previous defenses, Müftüoğlu reminded that the prosecutor's office again requested a sentence based on witness statements in its final opinion. Müftüoğlu stated that the open witness statements given under the direction of the police do not reflect the truth and said: “I do not have any records abroad on the dates mentioned by the witness. Again, the news I reported from Diyarbakır and Ağrı on these dates were submitted to the court by my lawyers. These news reports were published on open sources such as the internet and anyone can easily find them by searching the internet. Although the prosecutor claims that I may have traveled to Iraq illegally, I must point out that my health conditions at the time could not have withstood such a journey. In 2012, I had a traffic accident in which the C-2 bone in my cervical vertebrae was fractured. I was treated for a long time due to this accident, which also carried a risk of death. For the first 9 months, I was almost unable to leave the house, and for almost 2 years afterwards, I had a treatment process in which I had difficulty walking. As a journalist, I know how difficult it is to travel abroad illegally. It is obvious that it is not possible for me to make such a journey due to my health condition. The reports and information on my health condition, which my lawyers have previously submitted to you, are also available in your file.”

 

'MY WORK HAS BEEN CRIMINALIZED'

 

Underlining that the statements of the secret witness in the file, both in the police and in court, were aimed at criminalizing journalistic activities, “They claimed that I attended meetings of women's organizations. However, they did not provide any information about the date and time of the meetings. As an editor, the suggestions I made to the reporters I worked with in terms of news publishing were also tried to be presented as instructions. In this sense, the secret witness stated that they had no evidence for the allegation that I was an 'terrorist organization member'. The fact that I am tried to be defined as a 'member of a terrorist organization' based on the suggestions I made in the framework of publishing based entirely on one person's own views is nothing but the criminalization of my professional activities. In this sense, I demand a verdict of acquittal in this case, which will also be a step towards the realization of freedom of the press and freedom of expression.” 

 

Lawyer Resul Temur stated that the statements of both witnesses in the file should not be taken as basis. Temur demanded acquittal. Lawyer Hazal Sürmeli stated that there were no criteria for “membership of a terrorist organization” in the file and demanded acquittal. 

 

The court acquitted Müftüoğlu.