JINHA

MÊRDÎN – Criminal charges have been released against JINHA editor Zehra Doğan, who was arrested and placed in detention based on claims that she was “member of an illegal organization” after she spent months covering developments in Nusaybin. The reason that Zehra has spent three months in prison: witnesses testifying that she is a journalist.

With a 24-hour curfew declared starting March 13 in the Nusaybin district of Mardin province, JINHA editor Zehra Doğan spent months following the news in the city. On July 21, she was sitting in a café with her colleagues when police, telling her there were statements about her, arrested her. Zehra was taken to the Nusaybin police station; to the prosecutors’ office, where she was interrogated; and finally to a court on duty, which placed in in detention pending charges of “membership in an illegal organization.” The reasons given for Zehra’s imprisonment were statements made about her and examples of her news articles.

The Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has prepared criminal charges against Zehra, who is currently imprisoned in Mardin E Type Prison. The Mardin Second Assize Court has accepted the charges, which cite witness testimony as evidence of Zehra’s alleged “membership in an illegal organization.” Those who gave testimony against Zehra were among those subjected to torture on May 30. The individuals were initially reported in the media as “surrendering YPS members,” but were civilians tortured under arrest.

One of the examples of testimony against Zehra included in the document of criminal charges is as follows: “She must be a journalist. I saw her taking photos and shooting footage.” Another includes the statement, “She was taking photos and doing interviews in Giremira.” A further testimony says, “I know that she’s a journalist.”

The prosecutor, however, attempts to posit a “connection with the illegal organization,” despite Zehra being a journalist: “As a result of the investigation over the course of the entire document, it emerges beyond a shadow of a doubt that sufficient evidence has been obtained that because the suspect acts on the orders of the PKK/KCK terror organization, there has been an organic link formed with the armed terror organization; that she has been included in the organization’s hierarchic structure; and thus is a member of the organization. The demand and request on behalf of the public is that a judicial ruling be made that the suspect be tried and punished under the articles applicable to her actions and that security measures be taken against her.”

Zehra’s first hearing will take place on December 9 at the Mardin Second Assize Court. Her lawyers have demanded her acquittal.

(gc/cm)