News Center- The second hearing of the trial opened against Jinnews reporter Dilan Babat and Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reporter Fırat Can Arslan was held today by the Konya 4th High Criminal Court.

The journalists faced trial on charges of “pointing to public officials combating terrorism as a target” while covering the funeral of Jineology Academy member and journalist Nagihan Akarsel in Konya’s Cihanbeyli district on October 13, 2022.

Journalist Dilan Babat attended the hearing through Audio-Visual Information System (SEGBİS) from Ankara while journalist Fırat Can Arslan attended the hearing from Sincan prison through SEGBİS.

‘We did not point anyone as a target but we were threatened’

At the hearing, journalist Dilan Babat denied the accusation against her. “We did not point to anyone as a target. My colleague Fırat and I were threatened with death by the regimental commander. He prevented us from covering the funeral many times. We were also threatened in custody,” she said.

 Journalist Fırat Can Arslan also denied the accusation against him, saying, “The regimental commander violated the freedoms of the press. We were there to cover the funeral; however, the gendarmerie detained us by force.

After the defenses of the journalists, the court issued the acquittal of journalists.

What had happened?

On October 4, 2022, Nagihan Akarsel, journalist, writer and member of the Jineology Academy, was shot dead in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. On October 13, 2022, a funeral ceremony was held in the Gölyazı neighborhood of Konya’s Cihanbeyli and Nagihan Akarsel was buried. Journalists Dilan Babat and Fırat Can Arslan were detained by force while covering the funeral.