Mezopotamya Agency reporter Seda Taşkın is sentenced to 1 year 11 months 11 days in prison for 'terrorist propaganda' - but her sentence is deferred. The Court also acquitted Seda Taşkın of the “aiding a terrorist organisation” charges.

The Erzurum Regional Court also acquitted Seda Taşkın of the “aiding a terrorist organisation” charges.

She attended the hearing via video-conference from a court in Ankara.

Arrested in Muş on 20 December with a “serious tip-off” against her cited, detained and held in detention for about one year, and released provisionally under an interim order by the appeal court.

Speaking to Evrensel before the hearing, Seda Taşkın said the prosecution proceedings had continued in an unlawful manner since December 2017 when she was arrested.

Noting that the proceedings, which started with a tip-off email sent to the police, have been conducted in a manner that is in full contravention of legal norms, Taşkın said, “We know full well that these decisions that have been taken about us are entirely political. It must be known full and well that we have neither veered from the ethical principles of the profession of journalism, nor will we veer from carrying out our profession in the face of such unlawful prosecutions. I’ll appear before a judge again and I’ll say once more that journalism is not a crime. Whatever ruling is passed on me, I will continue my profession from wherever I find myself. Journalism can never be spatially restricted. Solidarity has great importance in such periods. We can also surmount these lawless proceedings that have been started against us with strong solidarity.” (EVRENSEL DAILY)