Nedim door opener
Nedim Türfent (born February 8, 1990 in Yüksekova ) is a Kurdish journalist from Turkey. He worked as a correspondent for the news agency Dicle Haber Ajansı, which has now been banned by decree . In December 2017, Türfent was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison.
Threats and Persecution
In 2015/2016, there were violent clashes between security forces and demonstrators in the predominantly Kurdish areas of Turkey . Barricades were erected in Yüksekova and the security forces used force against them. Türfent received a video in which a special operations team from the special operations department of the Turkish police mistreated and threatened dozens of construction workers on a construction site. The words: “You will feel the power of the Turk!” Türfent published the video with this headline and then received death threats from a social media account called JITEM . Türfent took the threats as an opportunity to leave Yüksekova for Van . Türfent was arrested on May 12, 2016 while driving to Van without friends and relatives knowing what had happened. The arrest was only granted after public pressure. Türfent reported to the P24 portal about attacks and threats, including sexual harassment during the arrest. He himself sees the reason for his conviction in the publication of the video.
Legal proceedings
The indictment was filed 13 months after custody was imposed. According to Cumhuriyet , Türfent was initially on trial for reporting clashes in violation of the curfew . The conviction finally came for membership in a terrorist organization. All but one of the witnesses said during the negotiations that they gave their testimony under pressure or testified that the written testimony did not contain what they had said. A so-called secret witness also appeared who claimed that he had seen Türfent in a PKK camp. Türfent denied this and said how could he prove something he had never done. On June 19, 2018, the Erzurum Court of Appeal Bölge Adliye Mahkemesi upheld the judgment. On July 3, 2018, Türfent's lawyers called the Constitutional Court .
Hunger strike
On March 1, 2019, Türfent joined a hunger strike by PKK prisoners against the solitary confinement of their leader, Abdullah Öcalan . The hunger strike ended in May 2019.
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Door opener, Nedim |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Kurdish-Turkish journalist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 8, 1990 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Yüksekova |