The Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) has objected to the travel ban imposed on journalist Ferhat Sezgin, who was assaulted and detained while covering protests in Van. Sezgin, a reporter for Mezopotamya Agency, sustained a broken nose and damage to his camera during the incident. MLSA's Legal Unit emphasized that restricting Sezgin's travel due to his journalism profession constitutes a violation of freedom of expression and deemed the measure disproportionate.
Sezgin was detained in Istanbul's Esenyurt district on April 3 while reporting on protests sparked by the non-issuance of a the mayoral mandate to Van Metropolitan Mayor Abdullah Zeydan. After his camera was broken during his two-day detention, Sezgin, who also received a medical report confirming his assault, gave his statement on the second day of detention accompanied by MLSA's Legal Unit. Although initially requested to be jailed on charges of 'propaganda for a terrorist organization,' Sezgin was released by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a travel ban.
MLSA's Legal Unit has filed an appeal against the travel ban, arguing that there's no evidence supporting the charges against Sezgin and that imposing a travel ban on a journalist with no risk of flight is an excessive measure. The appeal references relevant decisions of the Constitutional Court.
In a related case, MLSA also objected to a similar travel ban imposed on Sema Korkmaz, a reporter for Yeni Yaşam Newspaper, who was also detained during the protests and released with a travel restriction.
Sezgin's camera, which fell to the ground during his arrest, was later found by journalist Sezgin Kartal. The last footage captured on the camera was subsequently shared.
