VAN - 4 journalist who were being tried on charges of "membership to a terrorist organization" for publishing news of two citizens who got thrown off of helicopters got released at the first hearimng held today. 

 

The first hearing of the trial against Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reporters Adnan Bilen and Cemil Uğur, Jinnews reporter Şehriban Abi and journalist Nazan Sala, and MA reporter Zeynep Durgut, was held today.  Journalists attended the hearing held at the Van 5th High Criminal Court via Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS) from the prisons they are being held. The decision were announced after the defense statements of journalists and their attorneys.

  

The court decided the release of four journalists with judicial control measures and postponed the hearing to July 2nd.

 

The decision of release was applaud by the professional organization represantatives, families and other journalists, following the hearing.

 

Van Bar Association President Zülküf Uçar and attorneys of the journalists made a statement following the hearing.