Turkish prosecutors seek up to 7.5 years in prison for renowned journo over interview with former PYD co-chair Muslim

In a newly prepared indictment, a Turkish prosecutor’s office has sought up to 7.5 years in prison for journalist Nevşin Mengü for interviewing former PYD co-chair Salih Muslim on the charge of "making propaganda for a terrorist organization."

Thursday December 26 2024 04:14 pm

Duvar English

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has prepared an indictment into renowned journalist Nevşin Mengü, demanding her get a prison sentence from 1.5 years up to 7.5 years over her interview with former co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) Salih Muslim.

The indictment said “PYD/YPG terrorist organization leader Salih Muslim” was wanted with red notice.

It argued that Nevşin Mengü's “disseminated Salih Muslim's statements that deliberately aim to both legitimize and spread separatism, which is the aim of the (terrorist) organization, and the statements that legitimize the organization's methods involving force, violence or threats, or that make propaganda in a way that encourages resorting to these methods.”

Mengü’s interview should be considered within the scope of the crime of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” as the interview was watched by thousands of people, the indictment noted, demanding her get a prison sentence from 1.5 years up to 7.5 years.

After the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, Mengü visited Syria. After returning from Syria, Mengü interviewed Muslim regarding the future of Syria.

“However, I was warned by legal experts that this interview could be considered as praising crime and criminals according to the Turkish Penal Code. Therefore, I have removed the interview in question. I would like to avoid misunderstandings,” she previously said.

Turkey says the PYD is the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and therefore deems it a “terror organization.”