The first hearing of 18 journalists, 15 of whom are imprisoned, has just started at Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court.

Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) co-chair Serdar Altan, Aziz Oruç, editor of the Mesopotamia Agency (MA), Mehmet Ali Ertaş, Editor-in-Chief of Xwebûn Journalist, journalists Zeynel Abidin The first hearing of Bulut, Ömer Çelik, Mazlum Doğan Güler, İbrahim Koyuncu, Neşe Toprak, Elif Üngür, Abdurrahman Öncü, Suat Doğuhan, Remziye Temel, Ramazan Geciken, Lezgin Akdeniz and Mehmet Şahin, as well as the pending Esmer Tunç, İbrahim Bayram and Mehmet Yalçın, were detained on 8 June 2022 and sent to prison on 16 June as part of an Amed-based investigation.

The journalists are accused of "being a member of a terrorist organization" due to their professional activities. is being heard at the Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court.

High participation

Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG), Mesopotamia Women Journalists Platform (MKGP), Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS), Contemporary Journalists Association (ÇGD), DİSK Basın-İş, MLSA, Journalists Protection Committee (CPJ) and representatives of many professional organizations are attending the hearing. In addition, lawyers who are members of Amsterdam Law Offices, legal organizations such as Amed Bar Association, Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD), representatives of MED-DER and IHD, as well as deputies from the Green Left Party, HDP and CHP are following the hearing.

Due to the small size of the hall, a limited number of people were admitted to the hearing as spectators.

When the imprisoned journalists were brought to the hall, the audience applauded the journalists. The trial started after the identification procedures.