Turkey: RSF condemns the outrageous incarceration of journalists covering protests
Judges in Istanbul have imprisoned four journalists based on unjust accusations of "participation in unauthorised demonstrations." Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is outraged at these arbitrary decisions, which highlight the serious interference of political power in the judiciary and come as part of a dramatic escalation in the crackdown on press freedom — which must now come to an end. RSF calls for the immediate release of these journalists.
Update on 27 March: The release on Thursday 27 March of the four journalists arrested on 24 March and held in remand in Istanbul the following day – Yasin Akgul, Bulent Kiliç, Zeynep Kuray, Ali Onur Tosun – as well as that of freelance journalist Yagiz Barut and columnist for the daily BirGün (‘Day’) Baris Ince - who had been in custody for three days in Izmir - is a relief. However, freelance photojournalist Murat Kocabas, also arrested on 24 March in Izmir, is still in custody and must be released.
Update on 28 March: The third journalist arrested in Izmir on 24 March freelance photojournalist Murat Kocabaş, was released on 28 March. While all seven journalists have now been freed, they still face potential prosecution under the law on public demonstrations and could face up to three years in prison. What’s more, police operations targeting journalists continue: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) journalist Mark Lowen was expelled from the country on 27 March. The same day, Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, from the daily Dagens ETC was arrested upon arrival in Turkey, where he had come to cover the protests. On 28 March, it was Nisa Sude Demirel, a reporter for the left-wing Turkish daily Evrensel (“Universal”), who was arrested at 6:00 a.m. at her home. She had been covering student demonstrations as well as protests at Saraçhane Square and was sent to the anti-terrorism unit of the Istanbul Police Department.
Update 29 March: Nisa Sude Demirel, reporter for the daily Evrensel who was arrested yesterday morning at her home in Istanbul, was released on 29 March under judicial supervision. She will have to report to a police station twice a week.
On Tuesday, 25 March, the Istanbul public prosecutor’s office ordered the detention of four journalists arrested on 24 March as part of the intensifying crackdown on press freedom as the protests triggered on 19 March by the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor and main opposition figure, Ekrem İmamoğlu, continue to rock the country. AFP photojournalist Yasin Akgül, freelance photojournalist Bülent Kılıç, Now Haber reporter Ali Onur Tosun, and freelance journalist Zeynep Kuray were simply doing their job — covering massive public demonstrations.
Nevertheless, they are now being unjustly prosecuted under Law 2911 on public meetings and demonstrations. If their lawyers fail to reverse the decision on appeal, the journalists could remain in detention for weeks or even months awaiting trial.
“This is the first time that clearly identified journalists who were in the middle of working have been sent to prison under this law against public gatherings and protests. These scandalous rulings reflect a deeply serious situation in Turkey. Equating professional journalists with protesters not only shows shameless bad faith but also highlights the grave interference of political power in the judiciary that is attempting to silence the media. This dramatic escalation in the repression of press freedom must end. RSF calls on the authorities to immediately release the journalists.
As for the fifth journalist arrested on March 24, freelance photojournalist Murat Kocabaş, the Izmir prosecutor’s office has yet to make a decision regarding his case.
