Verdict of Release for Journalist Kibriye Evren

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Detained and arrested together with 142 other people including journalists and politicians on October 9, 2018 as part of an investigation launched by Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, journalist Kibriye Evren, a reporter for the JinNews website, had her eighth hearing at the Diyarbakır 5th Heavy Penal Court today (November 12).

The court has ruled that Kibriye Evren shall be released on probation.

Arrested pending trial for over a year now, Evren was charged with "being a member of a terrorist organization" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" due to her journalistic activities and social media messages.

Announcing its interlocutory judgement, the court has ruled that Evren shall be released on probation, considering the time she has already served in prison. The court has imposed judicial control measures and international travel ban on Evren. Her next hearing is on March 10, 2020.

What happened?

Journalist Kibriye Evren, a reporter for Jin News website, was taken into custody as part of a Diyarbakır-based operation on October 9, 2018. She was arrested on October 11 and sent to Diyarbakır Type E Closed Prison.

Evren was charged with "being a member of a terrorist organization" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization". In the indictment filed by Public Prosecutor Şahsuvar Yıldız, her journalistic activities and social media messages were cited as elements of crime.

Her indictment also included accounts of anonymous witnesses, her records of entering and leaving Turkey and electronic notifications.

While the events and organizations held by the TJA regarding the problems of women and male violence were cited as "illegal actions and events in favor of the organization", her pictures taken with her friends at a picnic were also added to the indictment as criminal evidence. (HA/SD)