Court releases journalist Müyesser Yıldız in 'military espionage' case

Her colleagues Barış Pehlivan (l) and Barış Terkoğlu (r) met Yıldız after she was released. (Photo: Barış Pehlivan / Twitter)

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The first hearing of a "military espionage" case against two journalists and a military officer was held today (November 9) in the capital city of Ankara.

While the court ordered the release of Müyesser Yıldız, the Odatv website's news director in Ankara, Noncommissioned Officer Erdal Baran will continue to stay behind bars.

Yıldız and Baran were remanded in custody in June for "disclosing information and documents related to the security of the state," based on the records of phone calls between them about Turkey's military and intelligence activities in Libya.

The third defendant, İsmail Zeki Dükel, TELE1 TV's representative in Ankara, was previously released.

Lawmakers, the Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS) and Yıldız's readers staged a demonstration in front of the courthouse before the hearing at the Ankara 26th Heavy Penal Court.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputies and journalists also followed the hearing.

Officer: I made up things

When asked by the presiding judge about the information that he mentioned as "intelligence reports" during the phone calls, officer Baran said that what he said was not true and he wanted to portray himself "as an important person" by claiming that he could access intelligence reports.

He "made up" most of the things he said during the conversations, said Baran.

Reading the recordings, the judge said some of the information that Baran shared with the journalist was "beyond guesses." In response, Baran said he had learned that information from a colleague.

When the judge asked him whether military information is that comfortably talked over the phone, he replied, "This is ordinary for us."

The judge then asked him why he said, "We are writing with Müyesser [Yıldız]." He replied that he was "creating space for himself" using the journalist's name.

In three other tapped phone calls, the judge said, Baran downplayed the activities of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in Syria and Libya, referred to Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar by his first name and called him an "idiot."

"Are you in a different camp in the TSK? What is the reason for the disdain?" he asked.

"The TSK is my life. I said [those] to criticize," the officer replied.

He further said that his conversations with Yıldız and Yüksel that were included in the indictment were about topics that can be found in open resources, noting that the TSK's possible dispatch to Libya had been publicly discussed since December 2019 and the parliament passed a resolution for military activities in Libya in February.

"Müyesser Yıldız would ask me what was happening in Libya, Syria. And I would tell her, adding to what I read in the press," said Baran.

Yıldız: I am the target

Speaking after Baran, Yıldız said she would not defend herself against what she called a "bill of vengeance," rather than a bill of indictment.

Recalling that she and her colleagues were also sent to prison in a criminal case against Odatv, which she called a "plot," she said she had told the court at the time, "What is done to us is not even lawful. I don't recognize your laws. Therefore, I won't defend myself."

"Unfortunately, I have to repeat the same words. I don't want to continue and legalize this dirty game, which is played without recognizing the law and morality, as if there is law and justice will be served," she said.

"I wished that you had sent this bill of vengeance to where it belongs, the dustbin of history, but you didn't do it," she added.

"The target is clear: Me... But, what do you want from a valuable journalist, İsmail Dükel, whom I haven't seen in years, what do you want from a poor noncommissioned officer who has an illness?" she remarked.

Speaking after Yıldız, Dükel said that "A country is free as its journalists."

Handing down its judgment, the court ruled for the release of Yıldız 155 days after she was sent behind bars.

For Baran, the court ruled that answers to the writs sent to institutions should be waited for and he should continue to be held (remanded) in custody.

The court removed Dükel's obligation to periodically report to a police station but preserved his international travel ban.

(HA/VK)