Held in pre-trial detention in the Sincan Women’s Closed Prison in Ankara since October 29, 2022 as part of the investigation conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Ceylan Şahinli was faced with a lawsuit on charge of “propagandizing for a terrorist organization” (as per the Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law – TMK).

Şahinli said that her statement was taken without the presence of a lawyer. She stated that the investigation in question was launched in 2017 and she had not known about the investigation since then.

The indictment dated December 5, 2022 by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau demanded the penalization of Şahinli by indicating “…it is understood that the suspect propagandized for the terrorist organization in such a way to legitimize or praise the organization via rallies, demonstrations or social media or by inducing the use of these methods…” 

The indictment was accepted by the Ankara 20th High Criminal Court on December 14, 2022. The first hearing of the trial will be held on March 7, 2023 (January 5).