Defendants: İdris Sayılğan & Naci Kaya

Media Outlet and Position: Mezopotamya Agency – Reporters

Accusations:  Entering prohibited military zones

Possible sentence: –

Court: Edirne 8. Criminal Court

Case Background:

İdris Sayılğan and Naci Kaya, reporters for pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya Agency, are being prosecuted for allegedly “entering military zones” without permission under Article 332 of the Turkish Criminal Code while reporting on Syrian refugees who were trying to cross borders between Turkey-Greece.

The indictment claims that Sayılğan and Kaya were trespassing prohibited “first degree” military zone of Edirne Pazarkule military base on February 29, 2020.

The first hearing was held on October 8, 2020. Sayılğan and Kaya attended the hearing via Audio-Visual Informatics System (SEGBİS) following their lawyers’ requests. Sayılğan and Kaya stated in their defense that they were reporting on the situation of refugees crossing the border with Greece. They further stated that they did not know they were in a military zone and there was no sign in the area indicating that it was a military zone.

The trial was adjourned until January 27, 2021.