Freedom of the press in Turkey: Zehra, Şahabettin, Yakup – accused of journalism

The German Meşale Tolu is free under conditions. But more than 150 journalists are still sitting in Turkish detention, including Deniz Yücel. These are their names.

Freedom of the press in Turkey: Zehra, Şahabettin, Yakup – accused of journalism

Since March, time online has documented cases of detained journalists in Turkey and – if possible – since when and for what reasons accused journalists are detained (see list at end of article). Currently we know of 151 cases. Most are accused of membership or support for a terrorist organisation.

The journalist Meşale Tolu, who was born in Ulm, was released from custody on 18 December after more than seven months, but only under conditions: it must not leave Turkey and has to report to authorities once a week. In proceedings, Tolu is accused of being a member of left-wing extremist MLKP. For this you threaten up to 20 years of imprisonment.

Tolu was arrested on April 30th. Antiterrorpolizisten had stormed ir apartment in Istanbul. "The Police Special unit not only directed gun to my son, but y also forcibly arrested me before eyes of my child," said Tolu in court. She sat in prison for several months with her two-year-old son. Her husband Suat Corlu also sat in Turkish detention. He was released on 28th Novebmer in Istanbul.

The federal government calls for release of all or Germans who are currently detained in Turkey for political reasons. This includes world correspondent Deniz Yücel.

Who, when, why – Time online documents

The placement of EU candidate country on list of freedom of press of Reporters Without Borders has deteriorated considerably since failed coup attempt last summer: it fell from place 151 to place 155 – with a total of 180 listed states.

Many cases of detained journalists have had little stir in past, such as fate of two French journalists: shortly after arrest of Tolus, policemen arrested photographer Mathias Depardonn in souast of Turkey. His cameras were confiscated, Depardon brought into a camp for refugees. The photographer went on a hunger strike on May 19 and released on June 9th.

His colleague Loup Bureau was arrested on 26 July in Turkish border area, and since n France's president Emmanuel Macron has sat down for his release. With success: Bureau was brought back to France on September 15th.

There is no specific charge against many of detained journalists, accusations are often vaguely formulated. For ors, one can only assume that arrest is related to ir journalistic work. For President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in any case, a journalist is already in common with terrorists when he interviews m.

A pre-trial detention in Turkey may take up to five years because of current state of emergency.

Date Of Update: 06 January 2018, 12:04
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