TJA activist Bilgin sentenced to 9 years in prison

TJA activist Zelal Bilgin, who is jailed in Diyarbakır Prison, has been sentenced to 9 years in prison.

The Diyarbakır 4th High Criminal Court held the 11th hearing in the trial of Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad, TJA) activist Zelal Bilgin, who was arrested on April 5 as part of an investigation launched by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on charges of "being a member of a terrorist organization."

While Zelal Bilgin attended the hearing with the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBIS) from Diyarbakır Women's Closed Prison, where she is held, her lawyers Sidar Gümüş and Diyar Çetedir were present in the courtroom.

Zelal Bilgin, presenting her defense, requested her acquittal, stating that the accusations directed against her were false and malevolous.

Attorney Sidar Gümüş noted that the anonymous witness's allegations are absolutely false and that legal activities cannot be considered evidence of membership in a terrorist organization. Gümüş requested acquittal, stressing that the actions and activities that Bilgin had taken part in took place in the scope of freedom of thought and expression.

The prosecution, on the other hand, reiterated its prior opinion and asked for a judgment to continue Bilgin's imprisonment.

The court sentenced Zelal Bilgin to 9 years in jail on allegations of "membership in a terrorist organization," but did not apply reduction of sentence.