Journalist Ruşen Takva was detained in the eastern Turkish city of Van over a video he shared regarding the removal of Van Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Abdullah Zeydan from office.
As part of a crackdown on those protesting the appointment of a government trustee to replace Zeydan, a total of 108 people, including journalists, were taken into custody in Van. The move follows a decision by Turkey’s Interior Ministry on Feb. 14 and an order by the Van Governor’s Office on Feb. 15 to replace Zeydan, who was elected mayor in the March 31, 2024, local elections.
Among the detained journalists are JINNEWS reporter Rabia Önver, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporters Bilal Babat and Mehmet Güleş, as well as journalists Medine Mamedoğlu and Behçet Bayhan.
According to a police report prepared by the Van Police Department, an investigation was launched against Takva over a post shared from the X account "Ruşen Takva." The post, which alleged that the Van Metropolitan Municipality building was surrounded by police and that tensions were high inside, was deemed to fall under the charge of "publicly disseminating misleading information."
Following a prosecutor’s order, Takva was detained on the morning of Feb. 15 in the garden of the Van Metropolitan Municipality building. Authorities stated that the investigation against him is ongoing and that he will be referred to the prosecutor’s office after his statement is taken.
Lawyers who spoke with the detained journalists said their clients were in good condition and expected to give their statements later in the day.
Developments regarding the detentions are being closely monitored.
