AZİZ ORUÇ
ISTANBUL — Journalist Hakan Yalçın, who was recently sentenced to a year in prison and fined 17,000 Turkish Lira (approximately $900) on charges of "damaging public property," has spoken out against what he sees as a widespread issue of unfair legal treatment towards journalists in Turkey.
While incarcerated in Sincan No. 1 High Security Prison, Yalçın was accused of damaging the wire mesh of his cell window. The incident led to a trial at the 11th Criminal Court of First Instance in West Ankara, where the allegations were substantiated, leading to his conviction.
Yalçın, in a statement to the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), described his arrest on September 25, 2022, for his journalistic activities and subsequent placement in solitary confinement as part of the prison’s design. He contested the conditions, citing severe asthma and inadequate ventilation in his cell. According to Yalçın, he removed a wire mesh from the window to breathe during an asthma attack, after which he reported the incident to the prison administration and was initially told there was no issue. However, a case was later filed against him for property damage.
Yalçın argued that such legal actions are part of a broader strategy to silence journalists, especially those not aligned with the government. "The system is uncomfortable with the public hearing about its mistakes, so it wants to punish journalists who expose them," Yalçın said. He pointed out that the indictments often refer to journalists in dismissive terms, illustrating a lack of respect and impartiality within the judiciary towards the press.
The journalist affirmed his commitment to continue his work despite the challenges. "Being a journalist in Turkey is difficult, and being part of the free press is even harder," he declared. Yalçın criticized the Turkish government for targeting journalists who are critical of its policies, emphasizing the role of journalists in voicing the concerns of minorities, women, and the environment.
Yalçın plans to appeal the court's decision through his lawyers, expressing hope that a higher court will overturn what he considers an unjust ruling. "We will not be silenced. We will continue to perform our journalistic duties in every field," he concluded.
