Journalist Abdurrahman Gök released from prison

Mezopotamya Agency (MA) Editor Abdurrahman Gök, who photographed the killing of university student Kemal Kurkut by police during the 2017 Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakır, was released at the second hearing of the case opened against him based on the statements of secret witness Ümit Akbıyık. Gök, who was accused of "being a member of an organization" and "making propaganda for an organization," was released from Diyarbakır No. 1 High-Security Prison, where he had been held for approximately 8 months, following the court's decision.

Gök was welcomed outside the prison by his family, the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG), the Mezopotamya Women Journalists Association (MKG), the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), and the Southeastern Journalists Association with flowers and applause.

According to the report by Mezopotamya Agency, Gök spoke upon leaving the prison, stating that he was happy to be out but felt sad for his colleagues who remain inside.

"THE THING THEY FEARED MOST WAS THE TRUTH"

Recalling the hearings of DFG Co-Chair Dicle Müftüoğlu and MA Editor Sedat Yılmaz, Gök said, “Dicle Müftüoğlu and Sedat Yılmaz are my colleagues and friends, and they are in prison. In fact, they are imprisoned on baseless grounds just like me. Dicle had come to the courthouse to see me off, but when I received the news of her arrest two days later, I was truly more saddened than I was for myself. That is why one cannot fully rejoice. In the current situation of the country, the fascist government will eventually collapse. My belief and hope in this are absolute. Because no fascist administration or system has been able to sustain itself for long; its end has inevitably come. The end of this fascist administration will also come with the truth. The thing they feared most was the truth. This truth will bring about their end,” he stated.

"I WILL CONTINUE TO PROCLAIM AND REFLECT THE TRUTH OF KEMAL KURKUTS"

Stating that he is confident he will be acquitted in the case, Gök said, “Despite the pressures that have continued against me since 2017 because of Kemal Kurkut, I will continue to convey the truth of Kemal Kurkut in every court, at every hearing, and to every person I come into contact with. Because I was devastated when I witnessed the unjust and unlawful murder of Sican mother's child. For this reason, I will continue to uphold the truth of her son. Whenever the name of Kemal Kurkut is mentioned, my name is also mentioned. I wish he were alive and my name were not being mentioned, but unfortunately, that is the situation. Therefore, I will continue to proclaim and reflect the truth of Kemal Kurkut and all the Kemal Kurkuts,” he said.