JINHA

AMED –In the first hearing of Dutch journalist FrederikeGeerdink on charges of membership in an "illegal organization," held in Diyarbakır today, the court said it willnot issue a decision on her acquittal until Monday.

Dutch freelance journalist Frederike, who has worked out of Diyarbakır for several years, is being charged with being a "member of an illegal organization" based on items she shared on social media and interviews she has conducted.

"The interview for which I am being tried is part of an article in which I argue that the politicization that has strengthened Kurdish identity is something that all Kurds can experience," said Frederike, speaking before the court about one of the articles presented as evidence in the case, which presents the political experiences of Kurds in Turkey.

She explained that in many of her writings, she openly identifies herself as a journalist for peace. "I see these claims as disrespect against my profession.

"I am a professional, independent journalist," she said in her statement. "I doubt that press freedom is very important for the prosecution. It affects me to the core, because it touches on my identity. I am, before all else, a journalist."

RazamanDemir, Frederike's lawyer, says his client is requesting to be acquitted immediately. He says there is no possible correspondence between the articles presented as evidence in the case and any alleged "propaganda." Even the prosecutor has supported the call for acquittal.

Speaking outside the court, Frederike noted that trials of journalists are normal in Turkey, but that her situation is slightly different because she is not a Turkish national. The last time a foreign journalist was tried in Turkey was in 1999.

"I'm being tried in a political trial. I feel strong," she said. "We knew there was no press freedom in Turkey, but while things were looking better before, now they're looking worse."

(sg/fk/cm)