Press in Arrest: Two journalists appeared before a judge in Turkey every day

* Photo: Pixabay

Formed by a group of voluntary journalists and documenting lawsuits against journalists in Turkey for two years, the Press in Arrest initiative released its January 2021 Press Freedom Report today (February 5).

The report of the initiative has shown that in January, at least 43 journalists appeared before a judge in various trials across 10 cities.

In other words, two journalists were tried every day.

According to Press In Arrest statistics, at least five journalists were detained, and one journalist was arrested and imprisoned in January.

Journalist Melis Alphan was faced with a lawsuit for a Newroz celebration message that she had posted on social media six years ago.

Three journalists were interrogated by the police and/or prosecutors under various investigations, according to the report.

Six journalists were acquitted, two journalists' trials were dropped, and two journalists were sentenced to 3 years, 22 days in prison, in total.

Advertisement bans, news access bans, and other attacks on journalists also remained on the agenda in January.

Based on these findings, the initiative has commented: "In Turkey, the developments concerning press freedom and journalists' trials in January 2021 constituted a sort of 'handbook for prosecuting journalists'."

One journalist in house arrest, one in prison

Some details from the Press in Arrest report are as follows:

"Mezopotamya Agency's Istanbul reporter Mehmet Aslan was detained at his Istanbul home on January 5th, 2021, under an investigation initiated by Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

"Aslan was arrested on January 8th, 2021 by Antalya Criminal Court of Peace, for alleged 'membership of a terror organization'.

"Jin News employees Habibe Eren and Öznur Değer, and journalist Eylül Deniz Yaşar were detained by the police while following a news story in Ankara. They were released on the same day.

"Upon an investigation launched by İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Etkin News Agency (ETHA) Reporter Pınar Gayıp was detained on January 14th, 2021 at a raid on her Istanbul home. She was released on January 18th, 2021, but placed in house arrest.

43 journalists appeared before a judge

"A lawsuit was filed against journalist Melis Alphan for allegedly 'spreading propaganda for a terror organization', by sharing on her social media account a photo from the Newroz 2015 celebrations, with the caption "Newroz Pîroz Be" (Happy Newroz). Alphan faces a prison sentence of up to 7.5 years, and will be tried at Istanbul 32. High Criminal Court.

"Between January 1st-31st, 2021, at least 43 journalists appeared before a judge at 29 different trials in 10 different cities (Istanbul, Diyarbakır, Ankara, Adıyaman, İzmir, Muğla, Van, Batman, Edirne, Antalya).

"25 of these trials were adjourned.

2 journalists sentenced to 6 years in prison

"Adıyaman 2. High Criminal Court sentenced Özgür Boğatekin, the Intelligence Chief of Gerger Fırat Newspaper, to 1 year, 6 months and 22 days in prison for allegedly 'spreading propaganda for a terror organization in a continuous manner via the media'.

"The trial where employees of Van TV, shuttered with an executive decree, are tried for allegedly 'spreading propaganda for a terror organization', continued at Van 4. High Criminal Court.

"The court acquitted Van TV presenters Serdar Altan, Gülsün Altan, Kadir Cesur and Sibel Eres, and dropped Koçali Özipek's case.

"Presenter Nahide Aslan was sentenced to 1 year 6 months in prison for "spreading propaganda for a terror organization in a continuous manner".

Journalist attacked, newspaper deprived of ads

"Yeniçağ Newspaper's Ankara Representative and columnist Orhan Uğuroğlu, who had criticized AK Party in an article, was attacked in front of his house. 3 people attacked Uğuroğlu from behind as he was getting into his car. Uğuroğlu gave his testimony to the police about the attack.

"The Press Bulletin Authority (BİK) sanctioned Evrensel, depriving it of public advertisements for 3 days, for citing the President of Communications Fahrettin Altun in a news story 'Cumhuriyet summoned to testify for news story on illegal villa construction', published on May 1st, 2020.

Turkey: 2nd worst violator of ECHR

"European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Atilla Taş's rights of 'security and liberty' and 'freedom of expression' were violated during the so-called 'Media Organization' trial, also involving Zaman Newspaper's columnists and reporters. Taş had been sentenced to prison under the said trial, and imprisoned for 14 months.

"As of end-2020, 11 thousand 750 applications were filed against Turkey at the European Court of Human Rights in total.

"According to the 2020 statistics released by the court, Turkey is the second worst violator of the European Human Rights Convention (ECHR) with 97 rulings and 82 violation rulings in total." (SD)

* Click here to read the full report