ISTANBUL - Prisoner journalist Eylem Babayiğit was released from prison during the first hearing of her trial.
The first hearing of the lawsuit filed against imprisoned journalist Eylem Babayiğit due to "terror organization membership" was held at Istanbul 22nd High Criminal Court. Eylem Babayiğit and her lawyers were present at the hearing. Representatives of Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association (MKG), Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG), Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) as well as many other people watched the hearing.
After the identification, Eylem Babayiğit made her defence and emphasised that she had made programmes in various fields such as women, labour, environment and economy and that these programmes were considered a crime. She emphasised that her right to report news and the public's right to receive news had been usurped during her detention.
Eylem Babayiğit's lawyer Nagehan Avçil stated that using the word Kurdistan and mentioning the isolation in İmralı was considered as terror organization membership.
Nagehan Avçil stated that the trial is against freedom of the press and demanded the release and acquittal of Eylem Babayiğit. The prosecution then demanded Eylem Babayiğit to be sentenced for "terror propaganda" and asked for her release.
The court sentenced Eylem Babayiğit to 1 year 6 months and 22 days for "terror propaganda" and deferred the announcement of the verdict. Eylem Babayiğit was also released from prison.