Defendants: Hatice Şahin

Media Outlet and Position: Yeni Yaşam – Editor

Accusations: Membership of an armed terrorist organization

Possible sentence: from 7 years 6 months up to 15 years

Court: Diyarbakır 9. High Criminal Court

Case Background: 

Hatice Şahin, an editor of pro-Kurdish Yeni Yaşam newspaper, faces the charges of “membership of an armed terrorist organization” in relation to an investigation against Democratic Society Congress (DTK), a pro-Kurdish umbrella organization that supports the Kurdish populated regions’ autonomy in Turkey. Şahin was briefly detained on October 18, 2018, as part of the investigation.

During the first hearing held on January 20, 2021, Şahin submitted her defense against the accusations that she had been involved with the DTK as a member. Şahin stated that she neither participated in DTK activities nor attend the meetings of DTK, but she followed and reported on DTK’s activities as a journalist.

The court decided to maintain the international travel ban against Şahin and ruled to allow anonymous witnesses, nicknamed “Firar” (Fugitive) and “Ezel” (Pre-eternity), in the case to be heard in between the hearings, giving 10 days for the defendant and her lawyer to submit their questions to the witnesses.

During the next hearing on March 24, 2021, the court noted that the two witnesses nicknamed “Firar” and “Ezel” were heard. An administrative staff member of Yeni Yaşam was also heard as a witness in this hearing, stating that he knows Şahin as a staff member did not witness any illegal activities of Şahin other than journalistic activities in the paper. Şahin’s lawyer said that they do not accept the testimonies of two anonymous witnesses heard in between the hearings and they will submit their final defense after a final opinion was submitted by the prosecutor.

The court ruled for those names that had been mentioned in the anonymous witness statements to be investigated and ruled for the continuation of the travel ban on Şahin. Next hearing was scheduled for June 28.