Journalist Berivan Eker Remains in Prison

The trial against Berivan Eker, former editor-in-chief of the Renge Heviya Jine ('The colour of the woman's hope') magazine was continued on 7 December. Journalist Eker was arrested upon an arrest warrant when she was on her way to consult her lawyer about the upcoming trial.

In the second hearing of the case, the 6^th High Criminal Court of Diyarbakır (south-eastern Turkey) dismissed the request for Eker's release. The hearing was attended by Eker and her lawyer Meral Atasoy. Atasoy filed an appeal against her client's detention. Should this appeal be rejected as well, Erker will have to remain in detention until the coming hearing on 25 January.

"Membership of an illegal organization" and "propaganda"

Public Prosecutor Ahmet Karaca demanded in his final speech to punish Eker under charges of "committing a crime on behalf of the PKK [the militant Kurdistan Workers Party] without being a member of the organization", "membership of an illegal organization" and "spreading propaganda for an illegal organization". The charges are based on "propaganda for the PKK organization" made in the April, May, June and July issues of the magazine.

The prosecutor pleaded for Eker's punishment according to Article 5 of the Turkish Criminal Code (TMY) that foresees an increase of punishment. He demanded to apply Articles 220/6 and 314/2 of the TCK and a two-count application of Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law. Hence, the journalist is facing 21 years in prison in case she would be convicted.

Detained in the Diyarbakır E Type Prison

The charges pressed against the journalist are based on her calling imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan the "leader of the Kurdish people", a "leader" and "leader Apo" (Öcalan's nickname), describing the PKK as the "leadership movement", glorifying Zekiye Alkan who allegedly shot herself upon the illegal organization's directive and praising alleged PKK member Nazan Bayram.

The bi-monthly Renge Heviya Jine magazine is the only women magazine publishing in both the Kurdish and Turkish language. Former chief editor Eker is detained at the Diyarbakır E Type Prison. (EÖ/VK)