Mesopotamia Agency (MA) journalist Fırat Can Arslan was arrested on 25 July as part of the investigation launched by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on charges of "targeting public officials".

At the hearing to demand that Arslan be tried without staying in prison, the Prosecutor's Office opposed the request.

Arslan’s lawyers said that there was no legal reason in the arrest of the journalist and added that the investigation threatened to intimidate and deter journalists. Recalling the decisions of the Constitutional Court (AYM) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the lawyers said: “The detention brought about by this judicial practice must be ended. There is no concrete evidence to show that the arrest is legal.”

Despite the lawyers’ argumentation, the judge decided for journalist Arslan to remain in prison.

What happened?

As part of an investigation launched by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reporters Delal Akyüz and Fırat Can Arslan, T24 editor Sibel Yukler, Bianet editor Evrim Kepenek and journalist Evrim Deniz were detained on 25 July.

The journalists were detained in Amed for sharing the news about the change of duty of the prosecutor who prepared the indictment of 18 other journalists on their Twitter accounts. The journalists were charged with "targeting a public official".

One of the journalists, Fırat Can Arslan, was remanded in custody on 25 July, while the other journalists were released on condition of judicial control.