Hidayet Karaca Declines to Testify to Court

* Photo credit: Metin Pala

Hidayet Karaca, Samanyolu TV’s Broadcasting Chairman, refused to testify to a court judge within December 14 Raids, saying that the court “lost its impartiality”, according to various newspapers.  

Karaca was facing charges including “being a member of an armed terrorist organization”,  “depriving individuals of their freedom by force or threat” and “accusations”.

The interrogation of 16 suspects detained within December 14 Raids is underway. 

“My client will be arrested”

Fikret Duran, Hidayet Karaca’s lawyer, made a statement in Istanbul Courthouse, claiming that his client will be arrested. 

“We are facing practices like during the era of military coup,” he complaint. 

“Certain political actors say that this investigation has nothing to do with journalism activities. The beginning of this investigation dates back to October 2014. An investigation that started after an email to police authorities from an organization called 'tahşiyeciler’.

“The investigation cites the speech of Fetullah Gülen as well as a TV series and some columnists. Then it links everything to a police operation. And they claim that policemen had fingerprint on some bombs.

“Nobody should hesitate, an arrest warrant will be issued. My client Hidayet Karaca will be arrested. 

“There is fiction here, they wrote a story and made up a plot. First, the some media covers on the issue after being notified by intelligence agencies, then the special ops take action.” (AS/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.