Photo: Rabia Çetin
Rabia Çetin
An investigation has been opened against Abdullah Keskin, Editor-in-Chief of Avesta Publishing, which publishes in Kurdish, on the allegation of “organization propaganda,” based on his posts on the social media platform X between 2021 and 2025. It has been learned that the investigation was launched upon a complaint made to the Presidential Communication Center (CIMER).
As grounds for the investigation, Keskin’s posts on social media platform X between 2021–2025 in Kurdish regarding Iran and Duhok, which is affiliated with the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, his expressions criticizing the use of a photograph of a Kurdish opinion leader on the Kurdistan flag, and his criticisms of the appointment of a trustee to the DEM Party-run Hakkari Municipality on June 4, 2024 were cited.
“No connection to terrorism”
Keskin said the following in his statement given today at the Counterterrorism Branch of the Istanbul Police Department:
“I cannot understand what these posts have to do with the subject of terrorism. I only expressed my opinions regarding Iraq and Iran. In my posts, there is not even the slightest implication that would evoke violence or terrorism. Throughout my life, I have defended that problems cannot be solved by violence or terrorism. I think it is very unfortunate that freedom of thought is being confused with things like terrorism. I express only my thoughts with my open identity. These thoughts may be considered wrong by some. However, there is no question of terrorism or encouraging terrorism. If I had such a thought, I would not state them with my open identity anyway.”
Speaking to MLSA, Keskin said, “The majority of my posts are not related to Turkey. Only a Turkish tweet in which I criticized the appointment of a trustee to Hakkari Municipality has been included in the file. Apart from this, the other posts are in Kurdish.”
“Is criticizing Iran a crime in Turkey?”
Stating that the Kurdish tweets that are the subject of the investigation were translated incorrectly, Keskin said:
“A significant portion of the Kurdish tweets have been translated incorrectly. A post in which I criticized the printing of a photograph of a Kurdish prominent figure on the Kurdistan flag has been evaluated as a criminal element. However, my criticism is not specific only to this flag; I expressed that I do not find it correct to have a photograph printed on any flag. A post I made regarding a protest in Duhok against Iran has also been considered a crime. Criticizing Iran is not a crime in Turkey.”
“There is no organization”
Reacting to the accusation of “organization propaganda,” Keskin said:
“At the point reached today, a ‘process’ is being talked about, however there is no concrete structure or organization. Despite this, an ordinary citizen can file a complaint merely because the expression ‘Kurd’ is mentioned or because of the colors on the flag. These complaints are taken into process without being subjected to sufficient evaluation by the relevant authorities and leave people facing processes that will last for months, even years. In the 1990s and 2000s, we were tried in State Security Courts because of the books we published. Even in those periods, there was a legal provision and legal justification on which it was based. Today, however, it is unclear which category the accusations fall into and on which legal basis they are grounded.”
“Freedom of expression should be guaranteed”
Emphasizing that his posts should be evaluated within the scope of freedom of expression, Keskin said:
“As people engaged in publishing activities, we pay attention not only to what we say but also to how we express it. We have never engaged in the propaganda of any side. Even on sensitive and painful issues regarding Kurds in Turkey, we have tried to present objective information. All our effort is in this direction. Despite this, constantly encountering the same accusations due to content that has no connection with violence or propaganda is wearing. The boundaries of freedom of thought and expression need to be expanded. Everyone should be able to express their thoughts freely on every subject. In an environment where freedom of thought is not secured, it cannot be spoken of a common future. When we express our thoughts, it is unacceptable that laws constantly stand over us as an element of threat. There is no aspect of the views I have expressed that would require them to be the subject of an investigation; they are clear, explicit, and do not contain elements of crime. Opening an investigation about a post just because it is in Kurdish is discrimination and is a clear indication that we are exposed to this discrimination. Evaluating a post regarding Iran within the scope of ‘terrorist organization propaganda’ is not acceptable from a legal and logical standpoint.”
