MLSA – French journalist Raphaël Boukandoura has been released following objections filed by the Legal Unit of the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA).
Boukandoura, a reporter for the French newspaper Libération who has been working in Turkey for over ten years, was detained on January 19 while covering a press statement held in the Sancaktepe district of Istanbul. Following his detention, the journalist was held under administrative detention at the Arnavutköy Removal Center, and deportation proceedings were initiated against him.
The MLSA Legal Unit filed an objection to the administrative detention and the potential deportation order, stating that Boukandoura had been detained while carrying out journalistic activity. Following the objections, Boukandoura was released.
MLSA Co-Director and lawyer Veysel Ok said that while Boukandoura’s release was pleasing, the incident points to a broader issue. Ok said, “Of course, his release is very pleasing. However, this incident shows that in recent times, prison sentences, deportation, or threats thereof against foreign journalists covering news in Turkey are increasingly becoming normalized.”
Referring to another recent case, Ok added, “For example, BBC correspondent Marc Lowen, who was in Turkey to cover the protests during the March 19 process, was taken from his hotel and deported. We are seeing a consistent approach aimed at making it virtually impossible for the foreign press to operate in Turkey. While Raphaël Boukandoura’s release is pleasing, this structural problem still persists."
