DİYARBAKIR - The trial of the eight people, seven of them being journalists who have shared the news about Sur operation in DİHA was tried today. The journalists have denied the accusations and pleaded not guilty.

 

The trial of those who have shared the article named “Name of the Siege “Flag 12” lead by Musa Çitil “which was published by DIHA and Özgür Gündem was tried today.

 

Mahmut Oral, a representative of Turkiye Journalists Union followed the case. Following the identification, journalist A. Vahap Taş made his defence and stated that he shared the article within the scope of freedom of information.

 

Taş also stated that there were numerous news in countless media organizations about Musa Çitil, former Gendarmerie sector commander of Diyarbakır.

 

TARGETING IS OUT OF THE QUESTION

 

Journalist Ömer Çelik continued, stating that the complainant Musa Çitil was a high profile person known by the public,: " We are journalists and we fulfilled a duty for the public interest. The accusation itself is a story we can write about in our reports. The complainant is a public figure and it is normal for him to appear on the news. It is not acceptable in terms of journalism that the article in question becoming a criminal evidence.

 

THE ARTICLE DOES NOT INVOLVE TARGETING

 

The defence attorney Resul Tamur reminded the fact that Musa Çitil is a suspect of "Derik Massacre" where 13 people got killed, added: " Çitil is a public figure. The article my clients shared is only about the worry they have for someone like Musa Çitil, who is a suspect of the killing of 13 people to be in charge of an operation where civil society resides. The article does not involve targeting.

 

After Tamur's defence , the trial was postponed to January 16.