Two journalists have been remanded in custody over a news report on an intelligence staff member who lost his life in Libya.

 

Detained at around 4 a.m. in their homes yesterday (March 4), Barış Terkoğlu, the editor-in-chief of the Odatv news site, and Hülya Kılınç, a reporter for the outlet, were remanded in custody by İstanbul 4th Judgeship of Peace later in the day.

 

Odatv said in a statement that the two journalists were detained because of a news report where the outlet claims to have acquired the footage of a National Intelligence Agency (MİT) member's funeral, which it describes as "silent and without ceremony."

 

Terkoğlu and Kılınç are charged with several intelligence-related offenses, including obtaining, disclosing and revealing documents and information about MİT's operations.

 

Upon an agreement with Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), Turkey has sent soldiers and equipment to the country since January.

 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on February 27 that "We have three martyrs in Libya."

 

DEFENSE STATEMENTS

 

Hülya Kılınç didn't accept the charges, saying that he found the photographs in the report on social media.

 

"Since I learned that citizens and government officials also attended the funeral, I did not see any harm in conveying it to the press," she stated.

 

"I said in my statement that the family of the MİT martyr did not want to speak to me. They said, 'We don't want to make a statement,' and I respected that. But I didn't see anything that would constitute a crime in the publication of this news report."

 

Barış Terkoğlu, also not accepting charges, also emphasized that state officials attended the funeral and questioned what needs to remain confidential in such a funeral.

 

"I don't think me being a suspect here is related to this news. This news is an excuse made up to make me a defendant in these trials," he said in his statement.