The first hearing of the case filed in Şirnak against 17 women who wanted to make a statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25 November) last year and MA reporter Zeynep Durgut, who followed the event, and found themselves accused of "violating the law on meetings and demonstrations" was held at the Şırnak Criminal Court of First Instance on Friday.

Journalist Zeynep Durgut, 5 defendants and their lawyers attended the hearing. The judge did not allow journalists into the hall. The women then made their defense saying that the police used violence against them and took them into custody.

In her defense, journalist Zeynep Durgut said that women who wanted to make a statement to protest violence against women were victims. Durgut added that she was a journalist and that she was following the incident as part of her duty.

The lawyers said that their clients were innocent, and the police intervention was unfair. The court postponed the hearing to 27 June.