JINHA Correspondent Vildan Atmaca Released

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Women’s News Agency (JINHA) correspondent Vildan Atmaca has been released on condition of  trial without arrest after the first hearing.

Atmaca had been taken into custody together with Idris Yılmaz; correspondent of Dicle News Agency (DİHA) on November 13 while following up news during armed conflicts in Tendürek neighbourhood of Erciş district of Van province and had been arrested due to accusations of “defaming the President through social media” and “propagandising for the terrorist organization” on November 14.

The first hearing of Atmaca was held today (December 29) in Van Erçiş High Criminal Court. Her colleagues and members of the Mothers of Peace Council have attended the hearing and supported Atmaca.

According to the report of JINHA, Atmaca’s attorney Sabahattin Kaya has stated; “It is intolerable that a journalist is kept under arrest with such an abnormal accusation. Sharing the photograph of a fighter women from Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) is not a crime.”

The court has taken the period of time in which Atmaca had been kept under arrest into consideration and has decided to release the journalist.

The next hearing of Atmaca who has been released on condition of trial without arrest, will be held on January 21, 2016. (ÇT/DG)