Journalist Rabia Önver appeared in the courthouse in Hakkari (Colemêrg) accompanied by her lawyer to comment on the investigation against her. An arrest warrant was issued last week, yet the investigating public prosecutor declined to hold a hearing with the accused and apparently no arrest will be made.

The Hakkari Public Prosecutor's Office accused the Kurdish JinNews reporter of "spreading disinformation" after the publication of a series of articles about state involvement in prostitution and drug trafficking. After the third feature article was published on 20 September, her family's apartment in Yüksekova (Gever) was stormed and searched by a police anti-terror unit that same evening. Because Rabia Önver was not at home at the time of the raid, an arrest warrant was issued against her.

No arrest planned

On her way to the courthouse on Tuesday, Rabia Önver was accompanied by her lawyer, her relatives and members of the Mesopotamian Journalists' Association MKG and the Dicle-Firat Journalists' Association (DFG). Lawyer Azad Özer said that no criminal offenses were found during the raid on her client's apartment. The responsible public prosecutor stated that neither a hearing nor an arrest were currently planned and that legal counsel would be informed if a statement was required in the proceedings.

Rabia Önver: Free press will not be silenced

Rabia Önver said that she was not in the city at the time of the raid. She described the raid on her family's apartment as illegal and thanked journalists in particular for the solidarity they had shown her. "It is obvious that the investigation is targeting journalism. The entire process is aimed at hindering people's right to information. Whatever the outcome, we will continue to report and defend our professional activities. We will continue to follow the trail of truth and uncover facts. I thank everyone. The free press will not be silenced."