Mezopotamya News Agency reporter Berivan Altan was taken into custody from his home in Ankara on 26 November during an operation conducted in Mersin. She was released on 3 December 2019 on the condition of judicial control after her detention was extended for another four days. The journalist has to sign at the police station once a week and also has an international ban.Altan’s interrogation was based on the claim of being a member of a terrorist organization (26 December).
The first hearing of Altaş’s trial where Altan is being tried for “membership in a terrorist organisation” was held on July 2 at the 2nd High Criminal Court of Mersin.
Altan was asked about the witness testimony against her and the shuttered newspapers Özgürlükçü Demokrasi and Rojewa Medya. Altan told the court that at the time, both papers were being legally published and were distributed on newsstands after being approved by the Prosecutor’s Office responsible for the press. Altan rejected the accusation.
The court ruled to hear the aforementioned witness at the following hearing, the court adjourned the trial until 12 November (2 July).
At the final hearing of the case held on February 25, 2022, the court ruled that Berivan Altan should be sentenced to 6 years, 3 months in prison for “membership of a terrorist organization” and 10 months in prison for “propagandizing for a terrorist organization.” The pronouncement of the 10-month prison sentence has been deferred (February 25).