Defendants: Hayri Demir

Media Outlet and Position: Mezopotamya News Agency

Accusations: Conducting propaganda for a terrorist organization; Membership of  a terrorist organization

Possible sentences: –

Court: Ankara 15. High Criminal Court

Case Background:

Hayri Demir, a reporter for Mezopotamya News Agency, is facing criminal charges of “spreading terrorist propaganda” and “membership of a terrorist organization” for his reporting in northern Syria.

During the first hearing in this case on September 24, 2019, the indictment included photos found in two memory cards from a camera as evidence, which were stolen from Demir’s house in 2017. The cards were allegedly found on the streets and given to the police. Demir requested additional time to prepare his defense. The court adjourned the next hearing till October 23, 2019.

During the most recent hearing on October 23, 2019, the court handed back the two memory cards to Demir. Demir presented his defense statement and the court adjourned the trial until January 23, 2020.

Demir has faced several other cases on similar charges for his journalistic work. In May 2018, Demir was sentenced to 1 year 6 months and 22 days on the charge of “terrorist propaganda” over a news article and a post he shared on social media.

Demir is also a co-defendant in an ongoing case, with Artı-tv correspondent Sibel Hürtaş, on the charges of “inciting the public to hatred and animosity” and “conducting terrorist propaganda.”

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office seeks up to ten years and six months imprisonment for each in the indictment in relation to both accusations. The prosecutor filed the case against the two journalists along with 10 other defendants over their news reports and social media posts about a Turkish military operation in Afrin, Syria.

Both journalists were taken into custody in late January 2018 and released on bail after four days. Read the details about this case.