The Bitlis 2nd Heavy Penal Court has accepted the indictment against journalist Mehmet Şah Oruç, charging him with "being a member of a terrorist organization" and "disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organization."
The Bitlis 2nd Heavy Penal Court has accepted the indictment against Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Mehmet Şah Oruç, charging him with "being a member of a terrorist organization" and "disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organization."
The court has also set a trial date for the case, 14 September.
Oruç was taken into custody along with 10 other journalists on 25 April in Diyarbakır and subsequently arrested. The allegations against him are based on a 63-page indictment prepared by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The indictment highlights 35 news articles and social media posts authored by Oruç, which the prosecution claims constitute "support for a terrorist organization."
The Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is seeking a maximum prison sentence of 22 years and 6 months for Oruç.
Previously, Diyarbakır's 4th Heavy Penal Court had deemed itself 'lacking jurisdiction' over the case, leading to the transfer of the proceedings from Diyarbakır to Bitlis.
