In Turkey AEJ representative Dogan Tilic, founder and columnist of the BirGün Gazaetsi in Turkey, reports that three journalists were arrested on January 28 as media freedom and freedom of expression continue to be threatened and intimidated by “the political establishment, the government and, unfortunately, the judiciary”.
He noted that journalists face the threat of investigation or detention at any moment while carrying out their fundamental duty to ask questions and that this month alone 14 journalists have been arrested.
This is his report:
Three journalists of the opposition Halk TV were arrested Tuesday evening for their news reports about an expert witness who was accused yesterday by Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu for presenting to a court reports against him that didn’t exist.
Journalist Baris Pahlivan, who asked expert witness Satilmis Buyukcanayakin about the claims of Imamoglu and broadcast it in a TV program; Seda Selek, presenter of the program, and Serhan Asker, the responsible manager of Halk TV, were arrested under an investigation on charges of “Unauthorized Interception and Recording of Interpersonal Communications” and “Attempting to Influence an Expert Witness”.
Imamoglu yesterday accused expert witness Buyukcanayakin of presenting a report that didn’t exist to the court and also pointed out that this individual was involved in investigations into the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP)-run municipalities of Besiktas and Esenyurt. Imamoglu is also under investigation for targeting the expert witness.
“Turkey has entered a new era of ‘Touch and Burn.’ We see that the power derived from the law is being blatantly abused, and attempts are being made to instil fear in every segment of society. We will not be afraid, and we will not remain silent. Do not be afraid, and do not stay silent!”, Imamoglu posted about the arrest of 3 journalists.
Imamoglu himself will go to court on Friday to give his statement in the investigation opened against him. And CHP leader Ozgur Ozel called on all democrats to go to court on Friday.
The Turkish opposition blames the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for using the judiciary as a tool against the opposition.
Commenting on similar arrests and investigations, Ozer said last week that “Instead of engaging in fair political competition, one political party’s leader (Erdogan) is executing a maliciously designed political operation through legal channels against another party’s leader. There is no acceptable place for this in democracies. This is cowardice, desperation, and weakness.”
A crowd gathered in front of Halk TV building in Istanbul and more people are coming there to protest the arrests.
