The first hearing of Dicle News Agency (DIHA) reporter Murat Verim, who also works for the Press Media and Public Relations Department of Mardin's Kerboran (Dargeçit) Municipality, was held in Midyat High Criminal Court yesterday.

Verim was sentenced to 3 years in prison for “spreading propaganda for an illegal organisation” on the basis of his reports titled “Attacks of the state”, “The mark left by state forces in the city” and “Human rights week and world peace day message”.

Verim and his lawyers will appeal against the court decision.

During the first hearing as part of another lawsuit on May 5, Verim had been sentenced to 6 years in prison for alleged "membership to an illegal organisation" due to his press bulletin titled "Towards free identity with self-administration".