Journalist investigated for 'terror propaganda' for saying 'Kurdistan Region'

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

An investigation has been opened against journalist Mehmet Ali Erdoğan over his tweets about earthquake aid sent by Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

In a tweet on February 12, Erdoğan wrote that more than 200 earthmovers had been kept idle for three days in Adıyaman, also sharing videos showing the equipment.

Later in the day, he wrote, "I talked to [the person] who sent the videos. About 15 earthmovers started moving. Apparently, the problem is solved."

Erdoğan was summoned to the police station for saying "Kurdistan Region" in his tweets, being charged with "terror propaganda."

After giving a statement at the Sultangazi District Security Directorate in İstanbul, he was released.

Erdoğan told bianet that the situation was "unbelievable."

"Where is Kurdistan?"

Explaining what happened, he said, "At that moment, I thought maybe they would see my post and take action so that some people who were left under the debris could be saved. More than 30 days have passed since then. When I woke up yesterday, I saw two unanswered calls. I called back. A police officer who said he had called me from the Anti-Terror and Security Branch told me that I had to give a statement.

"I went, of course. I was also wondering what the issue was. They showed me my post. And I told them there was no propaganda in the post.

"When I asked the police, 'Where is the propaganda?' They said, 'Here, the Kurdistan Region. Where is this place? Does such a place exist?"

"I said, 'There is the Kurdistan province in Iran. There is a federal region in Iraq. Suleiman the Lawmaker used this expression. Even Atatürk used it. Politicians say 'Kurdistan.' It is mentioned in reports of the Anadolu Agency.

"Then I was released. My statement was sent to the prosecutor's office. We are now waiting to see what will happen. I'm surprised to be honest. Because it's nonsense." (HA/VK)