DİHA news editor Ömer Çelik, Diken columnist Tunca Öğreten and BirGün accountant Mahir Kanaat had been detained alongside 3 other colleagues of theirs during house raids on December 25, 2016 for covering the emails of Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak that were hacked and leaked by Redhack.

The six journalists appeared at court yesterday evening after 24 days in custody. Çelik, Öğreten and Kanaat were formally arrested while three others were released on conditions of judicial control. The arrested journalists have been sent to Metris R Type Closed Prison today.

DİHA news editor Ömer Çelik’s family went to Metris Prison today but was not allowed to see him. Prison officials also refused to take the belongings Çelik’s family tried to give to them and told the family that Çelik would soon be sent to Silivri Prison and could receive the belongings when he gets there.