Dicle Müftüoglu and Sedat Yilmaz were remanded in custody in an investigation based in Ankara. An investigation into the arrests of two Kurdish journalists, Dicle Müftüoglu and Sedat Yilmaz, has come to an end.

Müftüoglu serves as the co-chair of Dicle Firat Journalists Association (DFG), and Sedat Yilmaz is an editor for Mezopotamya Agency and also an editor and writer for BIA children's library.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has completed the investigation and compiled an indictment involving the two journalists and 19 other individuals, with five of them currently remanded in custody.

The prepared indictment has now been forwarded to the Ankara 28th Heavy Penal Court for further examination. Within the next 15 days, the court will decide whether to accept the indictment or return it to the prosecution.

As of this moment, the specific charges against the journalists have not been publicly disclosed.

Background

The arrests of Dicle Müftüoglu and Sedat Yilmaz occurred on April 29 in Diyarbakir as part of the ongoing investigation initiated by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

During their detainment, the journalists faced a 24-hour restriction on meeting with their lawyers. Following this period, they reported that during the transportation to Ankara, they endured 15 hours of being held in handcuffs and were deprived of food for 24 hours.

After being brought before the Ankara Penal Judgeship of Peace, both journalists were subsequently arrested. Sedat Yilmaz was taken to Sincan 2nd High-Security Closed Prison, while Dicle Müftüoglu was transferred to Sincan Women's Closed Prison.

Dicle Müftüoglu previously emphasized the importance of their advocacy for journalism, press freedom, and Turkey's democratization during an interview on April 22, which coincided with Kurdish Journalists Day (Roja Rojnamegerîya Kurdî). She called for solidarity in the fight to uphold these principles

Source: English Bianet