DFG: We should protect journalist Gök and Oruç 

2023-09-12 14:41:21


	 

	AMED - DFG called for participation in the hearing of detained journalists Abdurrahman Gök and Mehmet Şah Oruç on September 14.

	 

	Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) made a statement regarding the hearing of arrested Mezopotamya Agency (MA) editor Abdurrahman Gök and journalist Mehmet Şah Oruç, which will be held on September 14. In the statement, journalists were asked to be protected.

	 

	In the statement, “Journalists are faced with a lawsuit again and again. Journalists are accused, tried and wanted to be punished. "Our friends, whose sole purpose is to bring what is happening in the country to the public agenda, have been deprived of their freedom and will appear before a judge months later."

	 

	'JOURNALISM ACTIVITIES ARE BEING PROSECUTED'

	 

	Reminding that the journalists were detained and arrested in an operation carried out after the statements of a witness on April 25, the statement included the following statements: “Journalists will appear before the judge after 142 days. A prison sentence of 7 years to 6 months to 15 years is requested for Abdurrahman Gök on the allegation of 'being a member of a terrorist organisation' and a prison sentence of 1 to 5 years on the allegation of 'making propaganda for an organisation'. The first hearing of the case will be held on September 14 at Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court.

	 

	A prison sentence of up to 22 years and 6 months in total is requested for Mehmet Şah Oruç, on charges of "being a member of a terrorist organization" and "making propaganda for a terrorist organization". The indictment also alleges that Oruç committed the allegations more than once, and therefore, the chain provisions regulating the increase in criminal charges are requested to be applied. Oruç's trial will be held on September 14 at Bitlis 2nd High Criminal Court.

	 

	JOURNALISTS ARE NOT ALONE

	 

	But it should be well known that; Both of our friends are not alone. Their colleagues and the public who know them closely and read their news will support them. For this reason, we will be in front of Diyarbakır Courthouse on Thursday, September 14 at 10.30. We will once again shout that journalism is not a crime. We call on all our colleagues, press professional organizations, democratic institutions and the public to support us and show solidarity with the journalists on trial. We should not forget that; It is your voice that is being silenced and we should protect our voice.”