Journalists Semiha Şahin and Pınar Gayıp Not Released in Their Third Hearing

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Etkin News Agency (ETHA) editor Semiha Şahin and reporter Pınar Gayıp, who have been arrested since April 19, 2018, had their third hearing at the İstanbul 23rd Heavy Penal Court today (January 30).

Announcing its opinion as to the accusations, the Prosecutor's Office demanded that the arrest of journalists Şahin and Gayıp continue. Accordingly, the court board ruled that the arrest of journalists Semiha Şahin and Pınar Gayıp shall continue.

The next hearing of the case will be held on March 27 so that the defendants and their attorneys could prepare their defense as to accusations.

The court board consisted of Presiding Judge Ahmet Uğuz; Members Abdullah Ok, Murat Tuncer; Prosecutor Hakan Gökalp Uçan.

"Their arrest should continue"

The third hearing of the case was attended by arrested defendants Semiha Şahin and Pınar Gayıp as well as their attorneys.

The Prosecutor's Office announced its opinion as to the accusations and demanded that Gayıp be penalized for "being a member of an armed terrorist organization" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" while Şahin be also penalized for "opposition to Law no. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations" in addition to the aforementioned two charges.

Şahin: Aim is to punish dissident journalists

Speaking after the opinion as to the accusations, Semiha Şahin said,

"As I said in the very beginning of this court case, the opinion as to the accusations presented today is a part of the lawsuits filed to punish dissident journalists. I am a socialist journalist. I request my acquittal."

Gayıp: I should be a witness at Suruç massacre case

Requesting her acquittal as well, Pınar Gayıp also said,

"We have been arrested for 9.5 months, the punishment has turned into execution now. I am a socialist journalist, I have never denied it. I shared my own news on social media, which was cited as offence in my indictment. In fact, the evidence allegedly suggesting strong suspicion for membership of a terrorist organization cannot even be evidence for terror propaganda.

"I am a witness of the Suruç massacre in Urfa. I should have been a witness at the cases held in Urfa while I was in prison, not a defendant here."

Speaking after their clients, the attorneys of Semiha Şahin and Pınar Gayıp requested their release from prison. However, in accordance with the opinion as to the accusations presented by the Prosecutor's Office, the court board ruled for the continuation of their arrest.

(TP/SD)