ISTANBUL - In the indictment of imprisoned journalist Necla Demir, programmes on violence against women and rights violations were considered a crime. Welat Ekin, owner of Güncel Production, is allaed to be an official of Medya Haber. 

 

The investigation against journalist Necla Demir Arvas, who was detained in house raids on January 17 as part of an Istanbul-based investigation and arrested on January 20 on charges of "terrorist organization membership" and put in Bakır Women's Closed Prison, was completed. The 53-page indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office includes the historical development and organisational structure of PKK/KCK.

 

In the indictment, the fact that Necla Demir's programme "Politik Kadın" (Political Woman) was broadcasted on Medya Haber TV and that Medya Haber TV occasionally featured statements of PKK and KCK officials was shown as evidence of "terrorist organization connection". In the indictment, it was claimed that Medya Haber TV "made broadcasts praising the terrorist organization" and "supporting the terrorist organization", but Necla Demir's programme did not contain any statements "praising or supporting the terrorist organization".

 

In the indictment, which includes 8 programmes of Necla Demir as "evidence", the statements of the guests, not the words of Necla Demir, were made the subject of accusation in these programmes. In the indictment, which includes a phone tap, Necla Demir's conversation with the person she would have as a guest on her programme was also made a subject of accusation.

 

ACCUSATION 'WOMEN'S AGENDA'

 

 

In the indictment, the programmes made by Necla Demir, who focused on the women's agenda with her "Politik Kadın" programme, were evaluated as evidence for the accusation.

 

The indictment includes programmes on 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the budget not being allocated to women, violations of rights committed in 2023, programmes on massacres of women, flexible and remote working, women's protests against violence, violence against women in earthquake areas, constitutional debates, discussions on the "solution process", and the isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.

 

The indictment claimed that Necla Demir committed the crime of "terrorist organization membership" through these programmes, the remarks of the guests and the broadcasting of the programme on Medya Haber TV, and demanded Necla Demir to be sentenced to imprisonment.

 

The indictment was accepted by Istanbul 23rd High Criminal Court.

 

EKIN CALLED THE AUTHORISED PERSON OF MEDYA HABER

 

An 8-page indictment was prepared against Welat Ekin, who was detained in the same operation. In the indictment, 4 pages of which are devoted to the history of the PKK/KCK, it was argued that Ekin was an official of Medya Haber TV, despite the fact that he was an official of Güncel Production and there were official documents regarding this.

 

Ekin, who worked as a reporter at the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) for a while before working at Güncel Production, was also presented as "evidence" in the indictment.

 

It was argued that Ekin is a "member of a terrorist organization" due to the allegation that Ekinci was an official of Medya Haber TV and the presence of his MA corporate card.

 

Ekinci's indictment was accepted by Istanbul 23rd High Criminal Court.

 

MA / Diren Yurtsever