Journalist Idris Yilmaz, was standing trial on charges of “membership to an illegal organization” because of news articles he wrote. The 5th High Criminal Court of Van sentenced him to 6 years 3 months of imprisonment on January 4, 2019.
Following the reversal of the decision by the Erzurum District Court of Justice on 6 March 2019, the case was combined with another investigation and the 5th High Criminal Court of Van conducted retrial.
Yılmaz was acquitted of the charge of “propagandising for a terrorist organisation” in the retrial, and he was sentenced to 6 years 3 months of imprisonment for “membership to an illegal organization” again. The 5th High Criminal Court of Van acquitted him but he was arrested from another case.
İdris Yılmaz was released from prison on October 25, 2019 followed the publication in the Official Gazette on Thursday of the Criminal Procedure Code and the Law Amending Certain Laws, which contains regulations in line with the objectives and targets determined within the scope of Turkey’s “Judicial Reform Strategy” (24 November)