After spending four and a half months behind bars in Mardin E-type Closed Prison, she was released pending trial on December 6, 2016 in the first hearing of the trial in which she was being charged with "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "being a member of a terrorist organization". The court decided that she be acquitted of the crime of "being a member of a terrorist organization" but be further tried for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization".
4.5 aydır Mardin E Tipi Cezaevi’nde tutulan Zehra Doğan, 9 Aralık 2016’da Mardin 2. Ağır Ceza Mahkemesi’nde “örgüt propagandası” ve “örgüt üyeliği” iddiasıyla hakkında açılan davanın ilk duruşmasında tahliye edildi.Mahkeme Doğan’ın “örgüt üyeliği” iddiasından beraatına, “örgüt propagandası” suçundan tutuksuz yargılanmasına karar verdi.