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PUBLISHER RAGıP ZARAKOLU ARRESTED IN TURKEY, NGOS OUTRAGED
PanARMENIAN.Net
October 31, 2011 - 12:30 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The detention of prominent intellectual, author
and publisher Ragıp Zarakolu on suspected charges of membership
in an illegal organization triggered a reaction from a variety of
progressive nongovernmental organizations.
Turkey Publishers' Union, the Contemporary Journalists' Association
(CGD) and the Human Rights Association (Ä°HD) called for Zarakolu's
release after he was detained in an Oct. 29 raid for alleged
involvement in the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), the alleged
urban wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
His detention came one day after approximately 70 people, including
Marmara University academic BuÅ~_ra Ersanlı, were also arrested for
alleged KCK involvement.
"Ragıp Zarakolu is a writer and publisher who works for the freedom of
publishing and who defends the right to the freedom of expression. He
has been tried dozens of times because of this stand," a statement from
the Turkish Publishers' Union said. "We find it very wrong and believe
it is fateful ... for our democracy that journalists, columnists,
writers and publishers are being detained through mass detentions."
The statement also said Zarakolu's lawyer, Ozcan Kılıc, had not
yet been informed about the nature of the accusations against the
publisher.
CGD Chairman Ahmet Abakay said the detention of Zarakolu, who is also
the head of the Turkey Publishers' Union's Freedom of Publishing
Committee, was indicative of how the country's present atmosphere
was damaging press freedom and freedom of expression.
"While we are waiting for journalists and writers who are in prison
to be released and for measures restricting press freedom and
freedom of speech to be removed, these new detentions and arrests
are unacceptable," Abakay said, Hurriyet Daily News reported.
Hundreds of people, including elected mayors, are already on trial
on charges of ties to the PKK.
PanARMENIAN.Net
October 31, 2011 - 12:30 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The detention of prominent intellectual, author
and publisher Ragıp Zarakolu on suspected charges of membership
in an illegal organization triggered a reaction from a variety of
progressive nongovernmental organizations.
Turkey Publishers' Union, the Contemporary Journalists' Association
(CGD) and the Human Rights Association (Ä°HD) called for Zarakolu's
release after he was detained in an Oct. 29 raid for alleged
involvement in the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), the alleged
urban wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
His detention came one day after approximately 70 people, including
Marmara University academic BuÅ~_ra Ersanlı, were also arrested for
alleged KCK involvement.
"Ragıp Zarakolu is a writer and publisher who works for the freedom of
publishing and who defends the right to the freedom of expression. He
has been tried dozens of times because of this stand," a statement from
the Turkish Publishers' Union said. "We find it very wrong and believe
it is fateful ... for our democracy that journalists, columnists,
writers and publishers are being detained through mass detentions."
The statement also said Zarakolu's lawyer, Ozcan Kılıc, had not
yet been informed about the nature of the accusations against the
publisher.
CGD Chairman Ahmet Abakay said the detention of Zarakolu, who is also
the head of the Turkey Publishers' Union's Freedom of Publishing
Committee, was indicative of how the country's present atmosphere
was damaging press freedom and freedom of expression.
"While we are waiting for journalists and writers who are in prison
to be released and for measures restricting press freedom and
freedom of speech to be removed, these new detentions and arrests
are unacceptable," Abakay said, Hurriyet Daily News reported.
Hundreds of people, including elected mayors, are already on trial
on charges of ties to the PKK.