On April 25, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) editor Abdurrahman Gök, agency reporters Ahmet Kanbal and Mehmet Şah Oruç, Yeni Yaşam Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Osman Akın, Kurdish weekly Xwebûn newspaper’s concessionaire Kadri Esen, JINNEWS reporter Beritan Canözer, journalists Mehmet Yalçın, Salih Keleş, Mikail Barut and Remzi Akkaya were detained in a Diyarbakır-based investigation.

Journalists Beritan Canözer, Mehmet Şah Oruç, Abdurrahman Gök, Mikail Barut and Remzi Akkaya were arrested by the court on charges of “illegal organization membership” on “strong suspicion of guilt” based on witness statements (April 25).

Gök was charged with “making illegal organization propaganda” (TMK 7/2) and “membership in an illegal organization” (TCK 314) based on his news reports and journalistic activities. The fact that Gök’s social security premium was paid by MA was considered as evidence. The first hearing of the case will be held on September 14, 2023 at Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court (June 23).

The first hearing was held on September 14, 2023 at Diyarbakır 5th Assize Court. The court announced its interim decision and ruled to hear the witness and to continue Abdurrahman Gök’s detention. The next hearing is scheduled for December 5, 2023 (September 14).

At the hearing on December 5, a decision was made to release him in line with the prosecutor’s request. The court imposed a travel ban on the journalist. The case was postponed to March 12, 2024 (December 5).

22 October 2024

The Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court continued the trial of Mezopotamya Agency (MA) editor Abdurrahman Gök on charges of “membership in an armed organization” and “disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organization.” Gök, who was present at the hearing, stated that the international travel ban prevented him from working as a journalist and requested the lifting of the judicial control measure; the court rejected his request. The court decided to drop its previous order to hear a secret witness, citing the need to avoid delays in the proceedings. It also ruled to await the outcome of the appeal pending before the Court of Cassation and to request a copy of the new investigation file against Gök from the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The trial was adjourned until 30 January 2025. (22 October)