dihaber correspondent Selman Keleş and Arif Aslan are standing trial at the 5th High Criminal Court of Van for “membership in a terrorist organisation”. dihaber correspondent Selman Keleş has been taken in custody on the grounds of “ membership to a terrorist organization” while he was recording around Van Municipality on March 20. He was arrested on March 31, 2017
Both journalists were pending trial in prison in Van and were released by the first hearing on 21 November 2017, after spending eight months in pretrial detention.
Since journalist Selman Keleş lives abroad, the lawyer of Arif Aslan demanded that the Aslan’s case to be separated. The next hearing will be on January 16, 2020.
The hearing on 16 January 2020 was adjourned due to the lawyer’s reporting an excuse. The next hearing is on 7 May 2020.
At the 9th hearing held on September 3 at the 5th High Criminal Court of Van,the court panel ruled to separate the files against Keleş and Aslan and rejected Aslan’s request for his international travel ban to be lifted (3 September).
The attorney of Keleş did not attend the first hearing expected to be held on November 24 by presenting an excuse as the statement of Keleş, who lives abroad, had not been taken. The trial has been adjourned until a later (November 24).
At the hearing held on February 9, 2021, the court board accepted the excuse of Oflas, the attorney of Keleş, and adjourned the hearing. The next hearing will be held on May 25 (February 9).
At the hearing held on May 25, 2021, the court board accepted the excuse of Selman Keleş’s attorney Barış Oflas and adjourned the hearing. The next hearing will be held on September 7 (May 25).
The hearing held on September 7, 2021 was not attended by Selman Keleş. His lawyer Barış Oflas offered an excuse to the court board for his client’s inability to attend the hearing. Accepting the excuse, the court board adjourned the hearing until January 11, 2022 (September 7).
Keleş’s lawyer did not attend the hearing by presenting an excuse on January 11, 2022. The hearing has been adjourned until a later date (January 11).
