Joint-statement from journalists from Turkey to the officials: ‘Release our colleagues!’

A group of journalists in Turkey held a joint press briefing in İstanbul today (January 6) about detention of their colleagues.

In the briefing, editorial consultant of BirGün Barış İnce, columnist from Diken Mehveş Evin, reporter of ETHA Arzu Demir, İstanbul branch head of Union of Turkey’s Journalists Gökhan Durmuş, and head of media workers at Union of Progressive Workers Faruk Eren each gave a speech, emphasizing their objection to detention of their colleagues without due process and in an unlawful way and extending their support to detained media professionals.

Speakers also demanded the release of over 100 journalists currently detained or in custody in Turkey.

Reminding that the 6 media professionals – Ömer Çelik, Metin Yoksu, Tunca Öğreten, Derya Okutan, Mahir Kanaat, Eray Saygın -, including BirGün team member Mahir Kanaat, were taken into custody from their houses through police raid on December 25th, BirGün editorial consultant Barış İnce expressed their objection to unlawful treatment of journalists, where they get legally subjected simply due to their random criticism or comments.

Drawing attention to reports indicating maltreatment and bad conditions of their colleagues, such as journalist Ahmet Şık not being given water and one other journalist deciding to go on hunger strike in jail, İnce added: “We are going through time period where lies are spread around very openly; anyone in opposition is declared as terrorist; and, the real attackers are wondering around among the public. The power holders, who have lost control, think that they would reach their goal of oppressing and silencing (those in opposition)… In such times, we cannot give up on searching after the truth for our country and our people.”

Noting that it has been 13 days since BirGün team member Mahir Kanaat was taken into custody and not allowed to see any of his family members, İnce shared the news with the audiance that Kanaat’s wife gave birth their second child today (January 6) and demanded all journalists to be released.

Source: https://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/bill-on-constitutional-change-in-turkey-to-be-brought-to-parliament-on-january-9th-142269.html