Journalists Charged With Prison in December 14 Raids

Detained on December 14, 16 individuals including Zaman newspaper editor-in-chief Ekrem Dumanlı and Samanyolu TV Broadcasting Group Chairman Hidayet Karaca have been charged with prison sentence for attempted coup against the government. 

While the number of detainees on December 14 were 30, 14 were released and the detention period of the remaining 16 were extended.

Among the initial detainees included TV series producers, directors and scriptwriters. They were released on the evening of their detention.   

Suspects including Dumanlı and Karaca reportedly spent 6 hours for interrogation. Following their statements, they were charged with prison and ordered to stand trial. 

Karaca’s advocate Fikret Duran reacted the on the news of his client’s court standing appearing on Anadolu Agency before being informed to them. 

Zaman newspaper wrote that Dumanlı was interrogated on two columns and one article. 

Petition 

While the detentions attracted international media’s attention, several organization including EU and OSCE reacted. 

In addition to that, a petition has been launched on change.org signed by several journalists  and writers including Harvard University’s Nieman Journalism Foundation 2015 “Louis M. Lyons Award Recipient Hasan Cemal, Yasemin Çongar, Nuray Mert, Mustafa Akyol, Can Dündar, Nazlı Ilıcak and Ahmet Ümit. (EÖ/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.