List of arrested journalists in Turkey
Many journalists in Turkey are being prosecuted and kept in jail all over the country.[1] Below is an extensive list of the prisoners, past and present.
List of arrested journalists
The following is an exhaustive list of arrested journalists in Turkey:[2]
| Name | Media | Position | Date arrested | Status | Background info | Pictures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdulcebbar Karabeğ | Azadiya Welat | correspondent in Mersin | 2010-09-26 | Released on 2012-11-02 [3] | detained at the closed prison of Hatay | |
| Abdullah Çetin | Dicle Haber Ajansı | correspondent in Kurtalan | 2011-12-16 | Arrested | detained at the D-Type prison in Diyarbakır | |
| Ahmet Akyol | Dicle Haber Ajansı | correspondent in Adana | 2011-05-09 | Arrested | detained at the M-Type prison in Ceyhan, Adana | |
| Ahmet Birsin | Gün TV | general coordinator | 2009-04-14 | Arrested | detained at the D-Type prison in Diyarbakır | |
| Ali Konar | Azadiya Welat | correspondent in Elazig | 2010-05-27 | Arrested | detained at the E-Type prison in Malatya | |
| Arif Çelebi | Released on 2014-05-08 [4] | detained during 7 years and 8 months | ||||
| Ayşe Oyman | Özgür Gündem | editor | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakırköy, Istanbul | |
| Aziz Tekin | Azadiya Welat | correspondent in Mardin | 2012-01-29 | Arrested | detained at the E-Type prison in Mardin | |
| Bayram Namaz | Atılım | writer | 2006-09-10 | Released on 2014-05-08 [4] | detained during 7 years and 8 months at the F-Type prison in Edirne | |
| Bedri Adanır | Aram Yayınları, Hawar | general director | 2010-01-08 | Released on 2012-11-27 [5] | detained during 689 days at the D-Type prison in Diyarbakır | |
| Cengiz Kapmaz | Özgür Gündem | writer | 2011-11-26 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Çağdaş Kaplan | Dicle Haber Ajansı | correspondent in Istanbul | 2011-12-20 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Davut Uçar | Etik Ajans | director | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Deniz Yıldırım | 2009-11-09 | Arrested | ||||
| Derek Stoffel | CBC News | journalist | 2013-06-12 | Released on 2013-06-12 [6] | ||
| Dilşah Ercan | Azadiya Welat | correspondent in Mersin | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the M-Type prison in Ceyhan, Adana | |
| Dilek Demiral | Özgür Gündem | journalist | 2010-09-26 | Arrested | detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakırköy, Istanbul | |
| Erdal Süsem | Eylül | editor | 2010-02-01 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Edirne | |
| Erol Zavar | Odak | director | 2007-01-20 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Sincan, Ankara | |
| Ertuğ Bozkurt | Dicle Haber Ajansı | editor | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Fatih Özgür Aydın | 2011-07-25 | Arrested | ||||
| Fatma Koçak | Dicle Haber Ajansı | director | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakırköy, Istanbul | |
| Faysal Tunç | Dicle Haber Ajansı | correspondent in Sirnak | 2007-04-05 | Arrested | detained at the L-Type prison in Kalkandere | |
| Ferhat Çiftçi | Azadiya Welat | correspondent in Gaziantep | 2011-02-16 | Arrested | detained at the H-Type women prison in Gaziantep | |
| Füsun Erdoğan | Özgür Radyo | general coordinator | 2006-09-10 | Released on 2014-05-08 [4] | detained during 7 years and 8 months at the T-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Gülsen Aslan | Dicle Haber Ajansı | correspondent in Batman | 2012-02-20 | Arrested | detained at the M-Type prison in Batman | |
| Hakan Soytemiz | 2010-09-25 | Arrested | ||||
| Hamit Dilbahar | Azadiya Welat | writer | 2010-02-13 | Arrested | detained at the E-Type prison in Erzurum | |
| Hasan Özgüneş | Azadiya Welat | writer | 2011-10-28 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Hatice Duman | Atılım | director | 2003-04-01 | Arrested | detained at the M-Type prison in Gebze | |
| Hikmet Çiçek | 2008-03-25 | Arrested | ||||
| Hüseyin Deniz | Evrensel | correspondent | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Ismail Yıldız | Dersim | director | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Kenan Karavil | Radyo Dünya | general director | 2009-12-11 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kürkçüler, Adana | |
| Kenan Kırkaya | Dicle Haber Ajansı | correspondent in Ankara | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Mazlum Özdemir | Dicle Haber Ajansı | editor | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Mehmet Emin Yıldırım | Azadiya Welat | general director | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Mehmet Güneş | Türkiye Gerçeği | writer | ???-??-?? | Released on 2012-10-05 [7] | detained during 310 days at the F-Type Tekirdağ number 2 prison | |
| Mehmet Haberal | Kanal B | owner | 2009-04-17 | Arrested | ||
| Mehmet Yeşiltepe | Devrimci Hareket | writer | 2009-04-30 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Tekirdağ | |
| Miktat Algül | 2010-05-17 | Arrested | ||||
| Murat Aydın | 2011-10-22 | Arrested | ||||
| Musa Kart | Yürüyüş | 2012-09-18 | Arrested | |||
| Mustafa Balbay | Cumhuriyet | correspondent in Ankara | 2009-03-06 | Arrested | ||
| Mustafa Gök | Ekmek ve Adalet | correspondent in Ankara | 2004-02-01 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Sincan, Ankara | |
| Nahide Ermiş | Demokratik Modernite | board member | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakirköy, Istanbul | |
| Nevin Erdemir | Özgür Gündem | editor | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakirköy, Istanbul | |
| Nilgün Yıldız | Dicle Haber Ajansı | correspondent in Mardin | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakirköy, Istanbul | |
| Nurettin Fırat | Özgür Gündem | writer | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Nuri Yeşil | Azadiya Welat | correspondent in Tunceli | 2010-05-27 | Arrested | detained at the E-Type prison in Elbistan | |
| Oktay Candemir | Dicle Haber Ajansı | journalist | 2011-12-24 | Released on 2012-11-16[8] | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Ömer Çelik | Dicle Haber Ajansı | correspondent in Istanbul | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Ömer Çiftçi | Demokratik Modernite | owner | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Ömer Faruk Çalışkan | Özgür Halk | general director | 2008-07-19 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Özlem Ağuş | Dicle Haber Ajansı | correspondent in Adana | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the women prison in Karatas, Adana | |
| Pervin Yerlikaya | Dicle Haber Ajansı | correspondent in Istanbul | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the L-Type prison in Bakirköy, Istanbul | |
| Ramazan Pekgöz | Dicle Haber Ajansı | editor | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Sadık Topaloğlu | Dicle Haber Ajansı | correspondent in Urfa | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Saša Petricic | CBC News | journalist | 2013-06-12 | Released on 2013-06-12 [6] | ||
| Selahattin Aslan | Demokratik Modernite | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | ||
| Semiha Alankuş | Demokratik Modernite | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | ||
| Sevcan Atak | Özgür Halk | editor | 2010-06-18 | Arrested | detained at the women prison in Karatas, Adana | |
| Seyithan Akyüz | Azadiya Welat | correspondent in Adana | 2009-12-11 | Arrested | detained at the M-Type prison in Iskenderun | |
| Sibel Güler | Özgür Gündem | journalist | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakirköy Istanbul | |
| Sinan Aygül | Dicle Haber Ajansı | correspondent in Bitlis | 2011-01-23 | Released on 2012-11-07 | detained at the E-Type prison in Muş | |
| Soner Yalçın | OdaTV, Hürriyet | owner, journalist | 2011-02-14 | Released on 2012-12-27 [9] | detained at the L-Type prison in Silivri | |
| Sultan Şaman | Hevîya Jinê | editor | 2012-02-07 | Arrested | detained at the M-Type prison in Batman | |
| Şahabettin Demir | Dicle Haber Ajansı | correspondent in Van | 2010-09-05 | Arrested | ||
| Şükrü Sak | Akıncı Yol ve Baran Dergisi | general director | 2010-04-26 | Arrested | detained at the E-Type prison in Sivas | |
| Tayip Temel | Azadiya Welat | writer | 2011-10-08 | Arrested | detained at the D-Type prison in Diyarbakir | |
| Tuncay Özkan | ex-Kanaltürk | owner | 2008-09-27 | Arrested | detained at the L-Type prison in Silivri | |
| Turabi Kişin | Özgür Gündem | editor | 2012-01-02 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type prison in Kandira | |
| Turhan Özlü | Ulusal Kanal | general director | 2011-10-08 | Arrested | detained at the L-Type prison in Silivri | |
| Yalçın Küçük | writer | 2011-03-07 | Arrested | detained at the L-Type prison in Silivri | ||
| Yüksel Genç | Özgür Gündem | writer | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakirköy, Istanbul | |
| Zeynep Kuray | Birgün | correspondent in Istanbul | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakirköy, Istanbul | |
| Ziya Çiçekçi | Özgür Gündem | owner | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the F-Type women prison in Kandira | |
| Zuhal Tekiner | Dicle Haber Ajansı | owner | 2011-12-24 | Arrested | detained at the L-Type women prison in Bakirköy, Istanbul | |
| Ekrem Dumanlı | Zaman Gazetesi | general director | 2014-12-14 | Arrested | ||
| Hidayet Karaca | Samanyolu TV | owner | 2014-12-14 | Arrested | ||
| Ebru Umar | Metro, Libelle | journalist, writer, columnist | 2016-04-23 | (Partly) released on 2016-04-24 | Dutch journalist, arrested because of insulting Turkish president Erdoğan. Umar is prohibited to leave Turkey for the Netherlands awaiting further investigation.[10] |
Grounds for prosecution
Kemalist and / or nationalist journalists were arrested on charges referring to the Ergenekon case and several left-wing and Kurdish journalists were arrested on charges of engaging in propaganda for the PKK listed as a terrorist organization. The legal framework on organised crime and terrorism is still imprecise and contains definitions which are open to abuse, leading to numerous indictments and convictions. Moreover, its interpretation by prosecutors and courts is uneven and is not in line with the European Convention on Human Rights or the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, according to the European Commission. No clear distinction is made between the incitement to violence and the expression of nonviolent ideas. The application of Articles 6 and 7 of the Anti-Terror Law in combination with Articles 220 and 314 of the Turkish Criminal Code leads to abuses; in short, writing an article or making a speech can still lead to a court case and a long prison sentence for membership or leadership of a terrorist organisation. Together with possible pressure on the press by state officials and possible firing of critical journalists, this situation can lead to a widespread self-censorship. Frequent website bans are a cause for serious concern and there is a need to revise the law on the internet.[11]
Most journalists are in prison based on the following laws:
- The Anti-Terror Law of Turkey (also known as Terörle Mücadele Yasası, TMY), Articles 5 and 7 relating to articles of the Criminal Code on terrorist offences and organizations or assisting members of or making propaganda in connection with such organizations, as well as the lengthening of sentences;
- The Criminal Code of Turkey (also known as Türk Ceza Kanunu, TCK), Article 314 on establishing, commanding or becoming member of an armed organization with the aim of committing certain offences.[12]
3 types of journalists targeted
According to a report published by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Turkish authorities are engaging in widespread criminal prosecution and jailing of journalists, and are applying other forms of severe pressure to promote self-censorship in the press. The CPJ has found highly repressive laws, particularly in the penal code and anti-terror law; a criminal procedure code that greatly favors the state; and a harsh anti-press tone set at the highest levels of government. Turkey’s press freedom situation has reached a crisis point.[13] This reports mentions 3 types of journalists targeted :
- investigative and critical reporters : victims of the anti-state prosecutions : The government’s broad inquiry into the Ergenekon plot ensnared investigative reporters. But the evidence, rather than revealing conspirators, points to a government intent on punishing critical reporters.
- Kurdish journalists : Turkish authorities conflate support for the Kurdish cause with terrorism itself. When it comes to Kurdish journalists, newsgathering activities such as fielding tips, covering protests, and conducting interviews are evidence of a crime.
- collateral damages of the general assault on the press : The authorities are waging one of the world’s biggest anti-press campaigns in recent history. Dozens of writers and editors are in prison, nearly all on terrorism or other anti-state charges.[13]
Concerns
Concerns persisted over the rights of the defence, lengthy pre-trial detention and excessively long and catch-all indictments, leading to significantly enhanced public scrutiny of the legitimacy of these trials.[11]
A report issued by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media[12] describes a number of concerns concerning the case of arrested journalists in Turkey :
- Courts often impose exceptionally long imprisonment sentences. The longest conviction is 166 years and the longest jail sentence sought for a journalist is 3,000 years.
- Many journalists face double life sentences if convicted, some without possibility for parole. Courts do not tend to grant pre-trial release of defendants.
- There is concern that arrests and long pre-trial detentions without conviction are used as a form of intimidation.
- Pre-trial detentions remain very long. In some cases journalists held in prison for up to three years are still awaiting trial. Some journalists have been imprisoned for more than five years while their trial is ongoing.
- Journalists often face several trials and are often convicted for several offences. There is one journalist who faces 150 court cases.
- Media outlets reporting about sensitive issues (including terrorism or anti-government activities) are often regarded by the authorities as the publishing organs of illegal organizations. Courts often consider reporting about such issues as equal to supporting them.
- Journalists are often imprisoned in F-tipi cezaevi (F-type high security prisons), where they have to serve their time with the most dangerous criminals. It is also not uncommon to punish journalists with solitary confinement for extended time periods.
See also
- List of prosecuted Turkish writers
- Censorship in Turkey
- Human rights in Turkey
- Human rights in Europe
- International Freedom of Expression Exchange
References
- ↑ Committee to Protect Journalists 2014 prison census: 220 journalists jailed worldwide. Retrieved on October 8, 2012
- ↑ The European Federation of Journalists List of journalists in Turkish prisons. Retrieved on 8 October 2012
- ↑ Evrensel Gazeteci Karabeğ ve Çat’a tahliye , retrieved on 17 November 2012
- 1 2 3 Hürriyet Daily News Three journalists, including Füsun Erdoğan, released over duration of detention, retrieved on 08 May 2014
- ↑ Bianet Bedri Adanır Özgür, retrieved on 28 November 2012
- 1 2 CBC CBC News, CBC correspondents released from detention in Turkey, retrieved on 18 June 2013
- ↑ Bianet Devrimci Karargahta dört tahliye, retrieved on 9 October 2012
- ↑ Bianet 34 tutukludan ikisine tahliye, retrieved on 16 November 2012
- ↑ Bianet Soner Yalçın, Imprisoned Journalist, Released, retrieved on 12 January 2013
- ↑ NOS Het weekend van Ebru Umar: opgepakt, vrijgelaten, maar nog niet vrij, retrieved on 1 May 2016
- 1 2 The European Commission Turkey Progress Report 2012. Retrieved on 11 October 2012
- 1 2 Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (April 2012). "Main findings of the table of imprisoned journalists in Turkey". The Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- 1 2 Committee to Protect Journalists Turkey's Press Freedom Crisis. Retrieved on October 22, 2012
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