DİYARBAKIR - Journalist Yusuf Karataş was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison for participating in DTK's activities.

 

Journalist Yusuf Karataş, who was sued for "establishing and managing an organization", was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison within the scope of the investigation launched against the members, delegates, commission members of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) for participating in the panel, symposium, congresses and campaigns of the DTK.

 

The hearing of the case against Evrensel newspaper's writer and Labor Party Central Executive Board Member Karataş on charges of "establishing and leading an organization" due to the activities he participated in, was held at the Diyarbakır 9th High Criminal Court. His lawyers Tugay Bek and Leyla Han Tüzel were present at the hearing, Karataş did not attend.

 

The prosecutor repeated his opinion that Karataş should be punished due to the charges alleged in the previous hearing, and that Karataş was actively involved in the DTK, was in contact with many other target persons within the scope of the file, attended DTK meetings held at different times and gave speeches there therefore he committed the crime of 'being a member of KCK/PKK and requested Karataş to be sentenced to 7 and a half years to 15 years for the crime of "being a member of an illegal organization."

 

Karataş's lawyers pointed out that there was no concrete evidence indicating Karataş to be a member of an illegal organization and demanded the acquittal of their client.

 

After the break, the court board sentenced Karataş to 10 years and 6 months in prison for "being a member of a terrorist organization" and decided to continue the ban on leaving abroad.