The 4th and last session of the 8th Hearing of Free Press journalists begins at the Istanbul no. 15 Serious Criminal Court with lawyers demanding the release of imprisoned journalists.

The "KCK Press Committee" case, in which 46 Kurdish journalists, 20 of them in custody, are on trial at the Istanbul no. 15 Serious Criminal Court opposite the Silivri Prison, continues. At the hearing attended by many relatives of those in custody,  ÖHD president lawyer Fırat Epözdemir drew attention to the fact the court had brought in a restriction on the length of time remanded accused could spend on their defence submissions. Fırat Epözdemir said they did not understand this limitation, adding that the judges had accused them of "procrastination", saying: "Is it us or the judges who are procrastinating? It is clearly laid down in the Code on Procedure and the European Convention on Human Rights that there may be no restriction imposed on the defence."

Epözdemir said that it was "a violation of professional standards" to say such a thing during the trial, adding: "If we do such a thing, please make a criminal complaint about us." Epözdemir also complained that the judge had scolded the defence for constantly saying the same thing when they asked for the release of those in custody, adding: "Are you going to prevent 20 lawyers having their say, just because they ask for the same thing? This doesn't comply with article 10, governing the principle of equality, of the Code on Procedure. Epözdemir asked for his clients to be released and for the restriction on making additional submissions to be lifted.

The hearing is continuing with the judges expected to make an interim judgment.