A prosecutor requested a 15-year prison sentence for the publisher of banned Kurdish daily Azadiya Welat over charges of “membership in a terrorist organization”. The indictment prepared by the prosecutor was accepted by the 11th High Criminal Court of Diyarbakır. It was said that Ramazan Ölçen “was acting on behalf of a terrorist organisation under the name of the publisher of a legal newspaper”. Ölçen faces up to 15 years in prison (January 8).

At the hearing held on September 22, 2021, the court board ruled that the written correspondence to the Justice Ministry to take the statement of Ramazan Ölçen, charged with “being a member of a terrorist organization” and currently living in Belgium, via letters rogatory should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on February 2, 2022 (September 22).

At the hearing held on February 2, 2022, the court board ruled that the execution of the warrant issued to take journalist Ölçen’s statement should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on May 30 (February 2).

At the hearing held on October 26, 2022, the court ruled that the execution of the warrant against Ölçen should be awaited. The next hearing will be held on February 13, 2023 (October 26).

The 14th hearing of the case was held on July 17, 2024 at the Diyarbakır 11th High Criminal Court. The court decided to await the execution of the arrest warrant against Ölçen. The hearing was adjourned until January 8, 2025 (July 17th).