IZMIR - Journalists Tolga Güney and Melike Aydın were acquitted of charges of “terrorist organization membership”, while Delal Akyüz was sentenced to six years and three months in prison.

 

Three journalists were put on trial in İzmir in connection with their professional activities on charges of “terrorist organization membership”. While JINNEWS reporter Melike Aydın and Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Tolga Güney were acquitted, Delal Akyüz was sentenced to six years and three months in prison.

 

The hearing at the İzmir 13th Heavy Penal Court was attended by the journalists who were represented by their lawyers.

 

The three media professionals were each charged separately with conducting investigative activities. All three were detained in February 2024, a few weeks before the local elections, as part of the same investigation and subsequently charged in separate proceedings.

 

The prosecutor reiterated his opinion at the previous hearing, in which he requested sentences for the journalists.

 

The lawyers then presented their defense. They said that their clients carried out their professional activities and that their actions fell within the scope of freedom of thought and expression.

 

The court acquitted journalists Melike Aydın and Tolga Güney on the grounds that their journalistic research, including contacts with certain sources, did not constitute a criminal offense.

 

Delal Akyüz, on the other hand, was sentenced to six years and three months in prison on charges of “terrorist organization membership”.