On April 29, Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) Co-chair Dicle Müftüoğlu and Mezopotamya Agency (MA) editor Sedat Yılmaz were detained as part of an Ankara-based investigation. Müftüoğlu was arrested on the allegation of “membership in a terrorist organization” (May 3).

Müftüoğlu applied to the Constitutional Court (AYM) (July 5).

Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office prepared an indictment against two journalists and 19 people (five of whom are detained) involved in the investigation. The prosecutor’s office sent the indictment to Ankara 28th High Criminal Court (July 21).

The court did not release Dicle Müftüoğlu at the first hearing of the case in which she was detained on charges of “membership of a terrorist organization” and “leading a terrorist organization”. Müftüoğlu, who has been held in Sincan Women’s Closed Prison in Ankara for seven months, started the hearing via Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS). The case was postponed to January 18, 2024 (December 7).

The Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court ruled for the release of Dicle Müftüoğlu, who was detained on May 3, 2023, on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “leading a terrorist organization. The hearing was adjourned until June 13 (February 29).

24 October 2024

Dicle Müftüoğlu, co-chair of the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) and editor at Mezopotamya Agency (MA), was acquitted by the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court.

In her defense at the hearing, Müftüoğlu stated: “I have been a journalist for 15 years. In recent years, I have spoken out and struggled for press and freedom of expression through the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association. I see no issue in saying that this entire prosecution is based on my activities at Mezopotamya Agency and the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association. Through my reporting, I have tried to make the voices of murdered women, young people deprived of their futures, women like Narin who were killed, and miners dismissed for unionizing heard.” The court ruled that the legal elements of the alleged crime had not been established and acquitted Müftüoğlu. (24 October)