Secret witness statements form basis of accusations against arrested Kurdish journalists

Statements of secret witnesses from previous years form the basis of accusations against the recently arrested 16 Kurdish journalists, according to reporting by Halk TV.

Sunday June 19 2022 12:29 am

Duvar English

Statements of secret witnesses form the basis of prosecutors' investigation file against the recently arrested 16 Kurdish journalists, according to reporting by Halk TV.

A Turkish court on June 16 formally ruled for the arrest of 16 Kurdish journalists on "terrorism charges" following a massive police operation in the Kurdish-majority southeastern province of Diyarbakır.

The journalists are working for the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya News Agency, the all-female Jin News website, a production company called Pel and the Dicle Fırat Journalists' Association.

The court ruling for the journalists Safiye Alağaş and Aziz Oruç refers to witness statements taken mostly in 2018 and 2019, Halk TV said. Some of the statements reportedly belong to secret witnesses, while some belong to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) members.

The statements reportedly contain general evaluations and not any specific information about the arrested journalists.

One of the secret witnesses said in their statement on Sept. 18, 2018, "The relevant media organs are directing the public to hatred and grudge against the state." Some of the statements even date back to 2013.