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TURKEY RELEASES 4 JAILED JOURNALISTS PENDING TRIAL'S END
CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/12/world/turkey-journalists-released/?hpt=wo_c2
March 13 2012
Istanbul (CNN) -- Four journalists accused of being involved in an
alleged plot to overthrow the Turkish government were released on
Monday pending the outcome of their trial in a case that is seen as
a test of press freedom in Turkey.
Among the defendants released were Ahmet Sik and Nedim Sener,
two investigative journalists who have been in custody for 375
days for their alleged involvement in the media wing of Ergenekon,
an ultranationalist shadow government aimed at overthrowing the
Islam-rooted ruling Justice and Development Party. Coskun Musluk
and Sait Cakir also were released. All defendants in the case deny
the allegations.
The court in Istanbul released the jailed journalists, citing the
"likelihood of reclassifying the crime" as well as "time spent under
custody," according to semi-state-run Anatolia News Agency.
"It is pleasing," said Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc of their
release in a televised speech welcoming the developments. "Long
periods under custody should not turn into punishment," he said.
Six other defendants remain in custody, including the editors of Oda
TV, a hard-line secularist online publication that is critical of
the AK Party.
"This is not just about press freedom, this is about freedom of
expression," said Sik upon his release from a prison in the outskirts
of Istanbul. "There are 100 journalists in jail but freedom of
expression is not just a problem for journalists," he said, pointing
out that 60 students and thousands of Turkish citizens are in jail
because of Turkey's anti-terrorism laws that curtail freedom of
expression.
A crowd gathered outside the prison to celebrate the release of the
journalists, waving Turkish flags and chanting, "Free press cannot
be silenced."
The AK Party has come under sharp criticism from the United States
and the European Union for prosecuting journalists. Various press
freedom organizations have been very vocal in their criticism of the
Turkish government.
"The government must go beyond this mere gesture and release all
journalists incarcerated under Turkey's vague penal and anti-terror
laws. Fundamental reform of the country's legislation to align it
with international standards is also essential," said the Committee to
Protect Journalists in a press statement after the release on Monday.
Turkey has one of the highest numbers of journalists in jail in the
world, with roughly 100 members of the press either convicted or on
trial, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Most are
of Kurdish origin.
The government says the journalists are not being tried for their
work. But critics believe the prosecutions are politically motivated
and meant to silence opposition voices.
Previous to his arrest, Sik wrote a book focusing on the infiltration
of the Turkish police force by followers of Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish
Muslim preacher who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania.
Copies of the draft book were confiscated by the police after
Sik's arrest. "Justice will be served when those who made up these
allegations against us are put in prison," Sik said after his release.
Sener, a reporter for the daily Milliyet, wrote extensively on the
2007 assassination of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink before his
arrest. Sener accused the state apparatus of purposely overlooking
mounting signals indicating a plot on Dink's life. In the parking lot
of the prison where he was released, Sener said he would continue
his work to shed light on the Dink murder. "The truth cannot be
imprisoned," he said.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 18.
CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/12/world/turkey-journalists-released/?hpt=wo_c2
March 13 2012
Istanbul (CNN) -- Four journalists accused of being involved in an
alleged plot to overthrow the Turkish government were released on
Monday pending the outcome of their trial in a case that is seen as
a test of press freedom in Turkey.
Among the defendants released were Ahmet Sik and Nedim Sener,
two investigative journalists who have been in custody for 375
days for their alleged involvement in the media wing of Ergenekon,
an ultranationalist shadow government aimed at overthrowing the
Islam-rooted ruling Justice and Development Party. Coskun Musluk
and Sait Cakir also were released. All defendants in the case deny
the allegations.
The court in Istanbul released the jailed journalists, citing the
"likelihood of reclassifying the crime" as well as "time spent under
custody," according to semi-state-run Anatolia News Agency.
"It is pleasing," said Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc of their
release in a televised speech welcoming the developments. "Long
periods under custody should not turn into punishment," he said.
Six other defendants remain in custody, including the editors of Oda
TV, a hard-line secularist online publication that is critical of
the AK Party.
"This is not just about press freedom, this is about freedom of
expression," said Sik upon his release from a prison in the outskirts
of Istanbul. "There are 100 journalists in jail but freedom of
expression is not just a problem for journalists," he said, pointing
out that 60 students and thousands of Turkish citizens are in jail
because of Turkey's anti-terrorism laws that curtail freedom of
expression.
A crowd gathered outside the prison to celebrate the release of the
journalists, waving Turkish flags and chanting, "Free press cannot
be silenced."
The AK Party has come under sharp criticism from the United States
and the European Union for prosecuting journalists. Various press
freedom organizations have been very vocal in their criticism of the
Turkish government.
"The government must go beyond this mere gesture and release all
journalists incarcerated under Turkey's vague penal and anti-terror
laws. Fundamental reform of the country's legislation to align it
with international standards is also essential," said the Committee to
Protect Journalists in a press statement after the release on Monday.
Turkey has one of the highest numbers of journalists in jail in the
world, with roughly 100 members of the press either convicted or on
trial, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Most are
of Kurdish origin.
The government says the journalists are not being tried for their
work. But critics believe the prosecutions are politically motivated
and meant to silence opposition voices.
Previous to his arrest, Sik wrote a book focusing on the infiltration
of the Turkish police force by followers of Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish
Muslim preacher who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania.
Copies of the draft book were confiscated by the police after
Sik's arrest. "Justice will be served when those who made up these
allegations against us are put in prison," Sik said after his release.
Sener, a reporter for the daily Milliyet, wrote extensively on the
2007 assassination of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink before his
arrest. Sener accused the state apparatus of purposely overlooking
mounting signals indicating a plot on Dink's life. In the parking lot
of the prison where he was released, Sener said he would continue
his work to shed light on the Dink murder. "The truth cannot be
imprisoned," he said.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 18.