Jail Term for Journalist Demir for Sharing His Own News Report

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Hayri Demir from Mezopotamya Agency has been sentenced to 1 year 6 months and 22 days in prison due to his social media posts. Announcement of the verdict has been deferred.

Concerning the sentence, Demir said:

“Even marking our colleagues has become a justification for punishment. In the lawsuit brought against me on charge of “propagandizing for a terrorist organization” for sharing a newspaper advertisement placed on to mark the journalists who were killed in the 90s, I am sentenced to 1 year 6 months and 22 days in prison”.

Lawsuit was brought by complaint of an “anonymous informer”

Presenting excuse, Demir and his lawyers didn’t attend the hearing. The court concluded even though the lawyers didn’t present their final statement of defense.

The lawsuit was brought as part of the investigation launched upon an anonymous person filing a complaint to the security directorate due to Demir’s social media posts.

He has been also tried over his “Afrin posts”

Demir is facing up to 10 years and 6 months in prison with Artı TV Representative to Ankara Sibel Hürtaş due to his social media posts and publications concerning the Afrin operation.

Demir was detained on March 16, 2017, and police launched simultaneous operation into the home of his family residing in province of Bitlis. (AS/TK)