VAN- The first hearing of the case where journalist Idris Yilmaz is being tried for alleged membership of an organization was seen today.Yılmaz who told that the judge told him "I would not arrest you if you were a citizen, but because you are a journalist, we will arrest you" was not released.

 

The first hearing of the case where İdris Yılmaz is being tried for allegedly being a member of an organization was seen in Van 5th Criminal Court today. Yılmaz attended the hearing via video call from Elazığ No1 Supermax Closed Prison where he is being kept.

 

Yılmaz said: " I have been targeted for the news I made a lot. I was battered, I was threatened. I was told 'We will leave you rotting inside those 4 walls'. I got arrested for a social media share on January 22. The judge told me he would release me if I was a "normal citizen" but he will arrest me because I'm a journalist. I was arrested and borught to Elazığ No 1 Supermax Closed Prison. Then they filed suits against me non- stop.I am under arrest for allegedly being a member of an organization for months.I am being tried here with the immaterial averments of someone I have never met.

 

Yılmaz demanded his release. The court decided to continuation of detention and  postponed the next hearing to 3 January 2019.