Court sentences Gündem to 6 years, 10 months and 15 days for “membership in a terrorist organization” and releases him from prison after 21 months in pre-trial detention 

CANSU PİŞKİN, İSTANBUL 

The final hearing of the trial where imprisoned journalist Mehmet Gündem faced the charge of “membership in a terrorist organization” was held on 9 July 2019 at the 35th High Criminal Court of Istanbul.

P24 monitored the hearing. Accompanied by gendarmerie, Gündem was brought to the courtroom from Silivri Prison. His lawyers were in attendance and his family followed the hearing. 

The presiding judge announced that the court had received the digital forensics report. The prosecutor reiterated his previous final opinion. Gündem’s lawyer Mecit Ceylan addressed the court and said: “There is no evidence in the digital forensic report that constitutes crime. You can change the final opinion.” The prosecutor requested Gündem to remain imprisoned.

Addressing the court for his final defense statement, Gündem said: “I have been imprisoned for 21 months. I am accused of terrorism. This is a very heavy accusation. I haven’t been charged before for anything except for traffic violations. While imprisoned I lost my father. I wasn’t allowed to go to his funeral. In May the Constitutional Court found rights violations in the applications of some journalists. Law does not run according to persons, it runs according to principles. Truth is true for everyone.” He continued, “That I became a member of the Journalists and Writers Foundation is interpreted as an organizational operation. There is no evidence to suggest that the foundation in question was in the status of a terrorist organization. There are no crimes out there, but I am accused. I have been a journalist for 25 years. Communication is essential in our profession. I have been using the same phone number since 1995. I have met people from all segments of the society. Some of the names mentioned in the phone records are the people I worked with at Zaman newspaper. The prosecutor requests my detention due to flight risk. I was on vacation when I found out about the arrest warrant against me. I immediately returned and turned myself in. Then I was released. When yet another warrant was issued I was at home. It is clear that I do not pose a risk of flight.” Requesting his release and acquittal, Gündem concluded his defense statement.

Gündem’s lawyer Ömer Faik Çetiner said: “It is clear that my client having a Bank Asya account does not imply he has links to terrorism. It has been determined in the forensic report that he did not use [the encrypted messaging app] ByLock. There is no evidence to suggest he committed the crimes he is accused of.” Two other lawyers representing Gündem also asked the court to acquit and release the journalist, adding that his lengthy pre-trial detention has turned into a punishment.

Asked for his final words before the verdict, Gündem said: “I wrote four books in prison. My job is to write. But imprisonment for such a long time is enough. I trust justice, reason and conscience.”