Having reported that the prosecutor issuing a detention warrant against Servet Turgut and Osman Şiban, who had been thrown off a helicopter, later issued a detention warrant against the journalists who disclosed the incident, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) Grant Holder Ferhat Çelik and İdris Yayla, the Jiyan TV Grant Holder who shared the news, faced a lawsuit.

The investigation launched by the Van Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into the news report titled “The same prosecutor issued the detention warrant against journalists” was completed on August 9, 2022.

The chief public prosecutor’s office cited it as criminal evidence that the name of the prosecutor who launched the – investigation and issued the detention warrant written was in full. Çelik and Yayla were indicted on charge of “marking a counterterrorism official as a target” as per the Article 6/1 of the Anti-Terror Law (TMK). 

The indictment has been accepted by the Van 2nd High Criminal Court. The journalists will have their first hearing on November 22, 2022 (September 7).

At the first hearing held on November 22, 2022, the court ruled that the date when complainant prosecutor Köker was appointed at the anti-terror department should be asked. The next hearing will be held on January 31, 2023 (November 22).

At the hearing held on January 31, 2023, the trial was adjourned as the lawyers offered an excuse. The next hearing will be held on April 25 (January 31).