Prosecutor who detained journalists goes on vacation without taking their statements
In Istanbul, a prosecutor who initiated and conducted the investigation involving the detention of nine journalists left for vacation without taking their statements. Instead, another prosecutor took over, who then requested the arrest of the journalists. Emine Özhasar, a lawyer from the MLSA Legal Unit representing journalists Mehmet Aslan, Erdoğan Alayumat, and Esra Solin Dal, criticized the process, stating, "This situation, which violates the right to a fair trial and contravenes the principle of immediacy, has also led to violations of rights during the detention period."
The crackdown began on April 23 with house raids, resulting in the detention of journalists and media workers across Turkey, including Esra Solin Dal, Enes Sezgin, Saliha Aras, Yeşim Alıcı, Beste Argat Balcı, Şirin Ermiş, and journalist Erdoğan Alayumat in Istanbul; Mehmet Aslan in Ankara; and former journalist Doğan Kaynak in Şanlıurfa. By April 25, all nine journalists were accused of being members of an organization based on their social media posts, their affiliations with news agencies, the news they followed and reported on, their phone conversations, and their interactions with news sources.
Three journalists arrested
Following the interrogations, journalists Esra Solin Dal, Erdoğan Alayumat, and Mehmet Aslan were arrested on allegations of being members of an organization. Esra Solin Dal, who was taken to Bakırköy Women's Prison, was subjected to a strip search, sparking widespread criticism from various sectors.
Throughout the arrest and detention process, figures such as Banu Tuna, Secretary General of the Turkish Journalists Syndicate (TGS); Gülşen Koçuk, Secretary General of the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG); and lawyer Emine Özhasar from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) have been vocal about the injustices. They have been monitoring the developments closely and offering legal support to the detained journalists.
Systematic pressures on journalists
MLSA's Emine Özhasar described the ongoing systemic pressures on journalists, which include not only this latest instance but are part of a broader pattern of harassment against the press in Turkey. Özhasar highlighted the use of Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) by the state, aimed at intimidating journalists into self-censorship through fear of legal repercussions.
Call for support from the public
During a media conference in Ankara, Banu Tuna emphasized the urgent need for legislation reform to restore the reputation of the media as the fourth estate and end judicial harassment of journalists. She pointed out that the cycle of arrests and trials has become so frequent that discussions about the future of the profession are overshadowed by the need to address these immediate threats to press freedom.
Advocating for journalistic freedom
Gülşen Koçuk also commented on the targeting of Kurdish journalists, suggesting that despite changes in government, the oppressive view towards the Kurdish community and its journalists persists. She stressed that reporting on issues like the Kurdish situation and isolation should not be criminalized and vowed that the journalistic community would continue to defend their profession and fight for their colleagues' release.
The ongoing arrests and the tactics used during the investigations have drawn criticism for violating basic legal norms and rights, with lawyers and journalist unions both calling for significant changes in how the judiciary interacts with the media.
