A case was filed against journalist Bircan Değirmenci on a charge of “making propaganda for an organization” over some posts she made on her X account in 2015. At the first hearing, Değirmenci acknowledged that the posts were hers but denied the charge, saying her aim had been to inform the public.
The indictment prepared by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office cited four posts Değirmenci made on her X account in 2015 as grounds for the charge. Prosecutors said the posts included images of armed people considered to be organization members, as well as symbols and flags considered to belong to the organization.
The indictment alleged that two posts dated 9 December 2015 contained images of people carrying long-barreled weapons, that a post dated 8 March 2015 shared an image of a Newroz square with the phrase “Diyarbakır, Station Square 1,” and that a post dated 9 January 2015 showed a person giving a speech with a flag in the background.
Prosecutors alleged that Değirmenci had committed the offense of “making organization propaganda in a successive manner” because the posts had been made publicly and more than once, and requested that she be punished.
Following the indictment prepared by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the first hearing was held at Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court. Değirmenci and her lawyer Orhan Sıcakyüz attended the hearing on 2 September. In her defense, Değirmenci acknowledged that the X account belonged to her and that she had made the posts. However, she said the posts did not constitute organization propaganda, stated that she had worked as a journalist for about 30 years and that her aim was to inform the public, and requested acquittal.
COURT ADDED INVESTIGATION RECORDS TO THE FILE
At the hearing, an investigation and assessment report dated 22 November 2024 concerning the posts cited in the indictment was also read. The court also added to the file the response to a request sent to the Counterterrorism Branch Directorate to determine whether people appearing in some images were organization members.
Lawyer Orhan Sıcakyüz argued that the posts had been taken out of context and should be considered within the integrity of the news reports. He requested open-source research and said the reports should be reassessed in context. After the defenses, the prosecution presented its opinion and requested that Bircan Değirmenci be punished.
The hearing was adjourned until 10:25 on 20 October for a defense on the merits.
20 October 2026
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