A lawsuit was filed against JinNews reporter Beritan Canözer on charge of “propagandizing for a terrorist organization”. Arguing that her posts on two social media accounts “legitimized and embraced the acts and activities of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)”, the prosecutor indicted the journalist for “propagandizing for a terrorist organization via the press” and demanded her imprisonment for up to 5 years. Canözer was previously given a decision of non-prosecution on the same charge.

The Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court accepted the indictment. The first hearing will be held on March 31 (March 27).

At the hearing held on March 31, 2022, lawyer Temur said that his client Canözer had no longer any assurance in terms of legal predictability and clarity due to the judicial harassment that she was subjected to. The court ruled that the files of the cases previously filed against the journalist should be taken in the case file. The next hearing will be held on June 21 (March 31).

At the hearing held on June 21, the court ruled that the files of the lawsuits against Canözer heard and finalized by the same court and by other courts should be requested and awaited. The next hearing will be held on October 13 (June 21).

At the hearing held on October 13, 2022, the court unanimously revoked the decision to await the result of the trial undergoing an appellate review at the Court of Cassation. The prosecutor requested that Beritan Canözer be penalized on the offense charged. Lawyer Temur requested time to make a statement as to the accusations. The court accepted the request. The next hearing will be held on November 17 (October 13).

At the hearing held on November 17, 2022, the court ruled that Canözer should be separately sentenced to 1 year, 10 months, 15 days and 1 year, 3 months in prison on charge of “propagandizing for a terrorist organization” and did not defer the pronouncement of the verdict. Canözer’s lawyer will take the verdict to the appeals court (November 17).