Journalist Ataman Under Arrest for 1,185 Days
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Ziya Ataman was an intern reporter of the Dicle News Agency (DİHA) which was shut down in 2016 due to a Statutory Decree. He was detained on April 10, 2016, and arrested a day later on the charge of "membership of a terrorist organization."
He had eight hearings in the 1,185 days he spent behind bars. The Constitutional Court rejected his application. The judges and prosecutors who tried him were discharged in an investigation against the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ, held responsible for the 2016 coup attempt).
The upper limit for his arrest, which is two years as it is a case examined by a heavy penal court, has long been exceeded. But he is still behind bars at the Van High-Security Closed Prison. He is waiting for his next case which will be held at the Şırnak 1sy Heavy Penal Court on September 24.
Barış Oflas, the attorney of Ataman, told bianet that he began journalism with distributing Azadiya Welat and Özgür Gündem newspapers in Beytüşşebap district in the mostly Kurdish-populated southeastern province of Şırnak.
"His only dream was to be a journalist. He was threatened by the police many times. They wanted him not to distribute these newspapers. When the threats did not stop, Ziya had to leave the district.
"After he worked for Özgür Gündem for six months, he was arrested on the excuse of an attack that was previously conducted in the district. The prosecutor's office did not present concrete evidence when he was arrested.
"Moreover, his relative K.A. was forced to testify through torture and pressure. K.A. later submitted a petition that says she/he made the statements under pressure but the investigation and the trial are still continuing with those statements. He is facing a life sentence. Although he is proven not guilty, he is experiencing great suffering.
"Ziya has been struggling with intestine diseases for many years. When he was outside, the disease was under control and he was being treated. After the entered prison, the disease began to grow under stress and prison conditions. He faces problems about going to the infirmary and the hospital."
"After our efforts, Ziya was sent to the hospital. He was prescribed drugs but was not sent to hospital again although he needs to receive treatment regularly. His disease has progressed. He needs continuous treatment.
"Although we have been making such requests for over two years, our petitions have been rejected by the prison administration without being considered.
"Another request of Ziya is to be sent to the ward of Nedim Türfent, who is also a journalist and sentenced to 8 years and 9 months in prison when he was a reporter for the DİHA." (HA/VK)