The pressure on Free Press workers continues. As part of the Istanbul-based operation, 9 journalists were detained in house raids on April 23. Among the detained journalists, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporters Mehmet Aslan and Esra Solin Dal and journalist Erdoğan Alayumat were arrested on April 26 on the allegation of "membership of a terrorist organization". The journalists' interviews with news sources made the news a subject of blame. Esra Solin Dal, one of the journalists, was subjected to a strip search in the Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison where she was taken.

 

 

(İHD Co-chair Eren Keskin)

 

 

'PRESSURE INCREASED AFTER 2015'

 

Human Rights Association (IHD) Co-Chair Eren Keskin, who visited Dal, evaluated the pressures on Free Press workers. Pointing out that journalists were arrested on the eve of May 3, World Press Freedom Day, Keskin said that the day in question has no equivalent in Turkey. Keskin said: "The opposition press has never been free since the Republic. If you put forward opposing views on the official ideology of Turkish state and on issues that have red lines, you can never be free. For this reason, the opposition press, which we call the free press, has never been free in this geography.”

 

Stating that the pressure on freedom of expression increased in Turkey after 2015, Keskin continued: "The state was using different methods in the 1990s. For example, it was destroying, killing, and making people disappear in custody. But there was some relief in terms of freedom of expression. But now the methods have changed. Now there are complete restrictions on freedom of expression and reckless arrest orders. For example, in the past, you would be sentenced, and when your sentence became final, you would go to prison. But right now, people, especially members of the press, are being detained and arrested when they go to testify because of their opinions.” 

 

'WE ARE EXPERIENCED IN A PERIOD WHERE CRITICISM IS PROHIBITED'

 

Noting that Turkey does not implement the agreements to which it is a party, Keskin said: "I am not a journalist, but my name was listed as the editor-in-chief of Özgür Gündem newspaper, the newspaper of Musa Anter, to whom I have always felt a debt of loyalty, for 3 years. That's why me and my other friends were punished for being "members of an armed organisation". They consider you a 'member of an armed organization' just because you are the editor-in-chief of a newspaper or because you wrote an article. Again, there are accusations such as 'making propaganda for a terrorist organization' and 'insulting the president'. In summary, we are living in a process where all kinds of criticism are prohibited. However, we can solve all problems by talking. But we can't talk. This is exactly the problem."

 

'DOUBLE STANDARD' CRITICISM TO THE OPPOSITION

 

Pointing out that the arrest of 3 journalists was not reported in many media outlets, Keskin stated that the main opposition and opposition press also engaged in "victim selection". Keskin said: "The main opposition party is only interested in the freedom of expression of people close to it. I have not seen any television or media outlet that claims to be oppositionist reporting that 3 of our journalist friends were arrested. Only those with a free press tradition made news. We also have to talk about this victim selectivity of the opposition. Recently, journalist Barış Terkoğlu was sentenced to 2 years in prison. Of course, we are also against this punishment. But while he was featured in all the media, our three arrested journalist friends were not featured in the same media. This double standard gives this state the power to violate more rights.”

 

JOURNALIST DAL'S EXPERIENCES

 

Keskin stated that journalists were subjected to "bad treatment" both in the police and in prison. Referring to her meeting with journalist Dal on April 30, Keskin lastly said: "The only thing that is used as an accusation against her is the news she made. We are talking about a journalist who is arrested because of the news she made. The branch is kept in a 4.5-foot cell. She was given no food, only water and a loaf of bread in the evening. All of these are violations of rights. She wants to go to the ward as soon as possible. There is an Administration and Observation Board (IGK) in prisons. This is a contra structure. These committees have duties that exceed those of even the execution prosecutor. Solin also wants to move to the ward. While she was going to the ward, IGK asked her to say, "I am a member of that organization, that's why I want to go to that ward." Solin said, 'I want to go to whatever I am being tried for. I am not a member of the organization and I will not sign this." In other words, they are trying to make you say 'I am a member of a terrorist organisation' when you go to prison. This is completely illegal. These are contra methods that would never occur in a democratic legal system." 

 

MA / Ömer İbrahimoğlu