Upon an investigation launched in 2017, the journalist Rojhat Doğru is standing trial for the charges of “attempting to overthrow the unity of the state” and “attempting murder”. The 8th High Criminal Court of Diyarbakır decided to release the journalist Rojhat Doğru pending trial, at the hearing held on 26 February 2019. The court also decided on international travel ban and judiciary control measure.
Another trial filed against the journalist on allegedly being a member of a terrorist organization was merged with this case.
The fifth hearing of the case was held on 15 January 2020. The next hearing will be on 24 March 2020.
At the hearing held on October 13, 2020, the prosecution requested that the statements of witnesses Yusuf Bayram and Yılmaz Kahraman be taken as part of the combined file and that the missing issues be rectified. Resul Temur, the attorney of Doğru, requested that the judicial control measure imposed on his client in the form of giving signatures be lifted.
The court board has ruled that a writ shall be notified to the prison where witnesses Bayram and Kahraman are arrested in order to take their statements and that the judicial control measure be lifted. The next hearing will be held on January 14, 2021 (October 13).
At the hearing held on January 14, the court board ruled that a written notification should be sent to the prison for an arrested witness to be heard as part of the file and another written notification should be sent to identify the address of another person to be heard as a witness. The court will hear the statements of both witnesses at the next hearing. The next hearing will be held on March 4 (January 14).
At the hearing held on March 4, 2021, the court board ruled that an official letter should be addressed to the prison directorate so that the statement of witness Yusuf Bayram, currently arrested in Tekirdağ No. 2 Type F Prison, could be taken via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS). The next hearing will be held on May 4 (March 4).
At the hearing held on December 14, 2021, the prosecutor’s office pronounced its final opinion as to the accusations and demanded that Rojhat Doğru be penalized on charges of “propagandizing for a terrorist organization” and “disturbing the unity and integrity of the state”. The court gave time to Doğru and his lawyer to prepare their statements of defense as to the accusations. The next hearing will be held on January 6, 2022 (December 14).
At the hearing held on January 6, 2022, the court ruled by a majority of votes that Rojhat Doğru should be sentenced to life imprisonment on charge of “disturbing the unity of the state and integrity of the country”, to 10 years, 10 months in prison on charge of “attempted deliberate killing” and to 1 year, 3 months in prison on charge of “propagandizing for a terrorist organization”. Deferring the pronouncement of the prison term for “terror propaganda”, the court has issued an arrest warrant and ruled that Doğru shall be arrested (Janaury 6).
