Investigation about journalist closes after seven years

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Bilal Seçkin was a correspondent of the Dicle News Agency (DİHA) later closed with a presidential decree. He was taken into custody in a police raid on his house in Kars on the morning of January 28, 2016. His computers and hard discs were seized.

On the same day, Mustafa Kaya, Barış Taş, Murat Alişan, İsmail Kaya, Mehmet Yıldız, and Ayhan Tanrıverdi, executives of two political parties HDP and DBP in the province were also taken into custody.

The reason for Bilal Seçkin's custody was a demonstration in Kars in December 2015. Police accused Seçkin of not informing them about the demonstration. Later on, his social media posts were also shown as elements of a crime. He was charged with "being a member of an armed terrorist organization."

The police released Seçkin a day later after taking his statement and returned his computer and hard discs five months later. However, the investigation was not closed for seven years.

Seven years one month and 3 days later

Kars Chief Prosecutor's Office gave a decision of non-prosecution 7 years one month and 3 days later on February 21, 2023, and notified the decision to Seçkin. "It was decided that there was no need for a public inquiry into the related event," the notification stated.

Bilal Seçkin believes that this case presents where press freedom is in Turkey.

"I was taken into custody for following a demonstration in Kars and for not informing the police about the demonstration. This case alone shows where press freedom is in Turkey," he told bianet.

Noting that hundreds of his colleagues are taken into custody, stand trials, or are arrested, jailed pending trial for months he said, "If I was arrested that day maybe I would stay in prison for years for nothing. Such as our friends waiting for an indictment to be prepared behind bars."

The journalist believes that it is a violation itself when an investigation continues for 7 years. He believes that this was done in his case because they tried to add something to his file or to invent a crime. "They tried to keep me from doing my job but I continued journalism during these 7 years. I believe in rights-focused journalism and I will keep on doing it," Seçkin says. (HA/PE)