A lawsuit was filed against Kadri Esen, the Grant Holder of the Kurdish Xwebûn newspaper, on charge of “propagandizing for a terrorist organization” due to a social media post. A picture shared by Esen on his social media account on April 9, 2018 was cited as criminal evidence by the Directorate General of Security’s Anti-Cyber Crimes Bureau.
The one-page indictment issued by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office was accepted by the Diyarbakır 10th High Criminal Court. Facing 1 year to 5 years in prison, Esen will have his first hearing on September 21 (June 28).
At the hearing held on September 21, 2022, Kadri Esen stated that he had posted the social media messages with the aim of reporting news and requested his acquittal. The prosecutor’s office alleged that Esen “propagandized for a terrorist organization” with his social media post and requested a prison sentence for him. Sentencing Esen to 1 year, 3 months in prison on charge of “propagandizing for a terrorist organization”, the court has deferred the sentence. Esen and his lawyer Temur will appeal against the ruling (September 21).
