Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reporter Zeynep Durgut has reportedly been released on bail.
Durgut was questioned about her news reports. Her lawyer stated that Durgut had been detained in an unlawful way and demanded that her client be released on bail.
After statements, the court decided Durgut would released on bail upon conditions of a travel ban on travelling abroad. Durgut has to also appear for signing three times a week in line with judicial control regulations.
She was detained in Şırnak
On December 17, Mesopotamia Agency (MA) and JinNews reporters were stopped as they were travelling from Şırnak to Cizre.
Zeynep Durgut had been detained at gunpoint with 3 other reporters following a police radio check on the grounds of an investigation launched by Van (Wan) Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Handcuffed behind her back, Durgut was then first taken to Şırnak Province Police Department and then on to Van city.
It was reported that Durgut was detained under an investigation regarding a news reports which had revealed torture against two Kurdish villagers, Osman Şiban and Servet Turgut.
She had been sent to court following her police statement. According to MA’s report, Durgut was questioned about contents of her news reports, charged with “operating on behalf of an organisation”.
Four journalists had been arrested
Other journalists have also been arrested for reporting the story of Osman Şiban and Servet Turgut, two Kurdish villagers who were seized by soldiers and allegedly detained, tortured and thrown from a military helicopter in the Çatak (Şax) district of Van. Servet Turgut later died in hospital.
As a consequence of their reporting, journalists Adnan Bilen, Cemil Uğur, Şehriban Abi and Nazan Sala were detained on 6 October. On 9 October they were arrested under the charge of “reporting against the state”.
Independent deputy Ahmet Şık had also gone to the area and had prepared a report about the incident which had also included Şiban’s statements relating to the torture.
According to Ahmet Şık’s report, Şiban had told him that they were first beaten inside the military helicopter and they were then thrown from the helicopter when the helicopter was landing and that they were also severly beaten by soldiers at the military post.
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