36 more journalists arrested in Turkey, totaling 99 journalists in prison

[Compiled from Birgun, ANF and BIA news agencies. Previously the total number of journalists in prison was cited as 107, but it was changed to 99 after a press release by Turkey’s Union of Journalists (TGS)] December 24, 2011

The AKP government continues to imprison the rights of the people.

Following the detentions within the scope of the so-called KCK operations on 20 December, 36 journalists have been remanded in custody by a vacation court for allegedly being “member of an illegal organization”. While being brought to court journalists shouted ¨This kingdom will come to an end.¨

After bearing testimony to the prosecutor at Istanbul Court for over 15 hours, 42 journalists were on 23 December evening referred to the vacation court with a demand of arrest. While six of them were released on 24 December morning on conditions of trial without arrest, 36 journalists were sent to prison once again despite the lack of any confirmed criminal evidence.

December 26, 2011: URGENT CALL OF SOLIDARITY FOR THE JOURNALIST PRISONERS IN TURKEY

Turkey currently holds more than 60 journalists in prison and the number goes up regularly. Last week, Turkish police detained more than 40 journalists, as part of a growing investigation against the Kurdistan Communities Union, KCK, an umbrella organization for Kurdish political movement.

At the same time, the second hearing of ODA TV case, which is the most symbolic case about freedom of press in Turkey, is approaching. This hearing will be held in Çağlayan Court House, in İstanbul on 26^th of December 2011. The 13 journalists including well-known investigative journalists Ahmet Şık and Nedim Şener have been in prison for nine months already because of the ODA TV case. All of these journalists have made critical news about Justice and Development Party (AKP), the ruling party in Turkey. These journalists are accused of crimes like being involved in a plot to overthrow the government, being member of a terrorist organisation, etc… There is no proof or evidence pertaining to these accusations yet!

Journalists in Police Custody – Crackdowns on Homes and Offices

http://bianet.org/english/freedom-of-expression/134901-journalists-in-police-custody—crackdowns-on-homes-and-offices

More than 25 journalists were taken into police custody on 21 December during crackdowns on offices of news agencies and newspapers in several cities. The raids and custodies are part of the “KCK operation”.

Istanbul – BİA News Center

21 December 2011, Wednesday

More than 25 journalists were taken into police custody in the course of operations against journalists in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Van, Adana and Diyarbakır on Tuesday morning (20 December). The crackdowns were part of the so-called KCK operation related to the Union of Kurdish Communities (KCK), the umbrella organization that includes the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Strong Reaction to Journalists’ Arrest

Thousands gathered in Istanbul and Ankara, protesting the arrest of journalists in relation to the infamous KCK operations. Journalists, MPs, rights activists, union leaders condemn the latest police operation as the final nail on the coffin of freedom of expression in Turkey.

İstanbul – BİA News Center

21 December 2011, Wednesday

Thousands of people took to the streets in Istanbul and Ankara, protesting the arrest of journalists on allegations related to the so-called KCK operation. Police operations, investigations and massive trials into The Union of Kurdish Communities (KCK), the umbrella organization that includes the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) have seen thousands of pro-Kurdish politicians and rights activists arrested in the last two years.

Turkey’s War on Journalists

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/12/22/turkeys_war_on_journalists?page=full

As Prime Minister Erdogan’s government grows increasingly intolerant of dissent, the media is bearing the brunt of its effort to silence its critics.

BY ALIA MALEK | DECEMBER 22, 2011

ISTANBUL —When the terrorism trial of jailed Turkish journalists Ahmet Sik and Nedim Sener began in Istanbul on Nov. 22, only a handful of their colleagues — far fewer than expected — gathered in protest outside the courthouse that will decide their fate.

A mosaic of the smiling photographs of many of Turkey’s detained journalists was laid out on the ground at the foot of a swarm of TV tripods, their cameras aiming for a glimpse of the defendants. Sik and Sener’s case is perhaps the most high-profile example of what critics see as the Turkish government’s crackdown on critical voices, which has transformed it into one of the world’s leading jailers of journalists.

CPJ condemns journalist arrests in Turkey

December 22, 2011

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Ceyhun Atıf Kansu Caddesi No. 122
Balgat
Ankara, Turkey

Via facsimile: +90 312 473 64 55

Dear Prime Minister Erdoğan,

The Committee to Protect Journalists is writing to condemn the arrests of as many as 29 journalists in raids on Tuesday as well as the ongoing media repression that has earned Turkey a reputation as one of the world’s worst press freedom violators and done grave damage to the consolidation of Turkish democracy.

In coordinated raids that stretched from Istanbul to Diyarbakir, and from Ankara to Izmir, police detained 40 individuals, according to state-run media. News reports said many are journalists, although the precise number is not clear. So far, CPJ has been able to identify 29 journalists by name and affiliation, and it continues to examine 11 others. Your government claims that the operation targets “the press and propaganda” arm of the Union of Kurdistan Communities (KCK), but it provides no evidence supporting this assertion. Authorities maintain that the KCK is the “urban wing” of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, a claim that has been widely disputed.

Turkish journalists on trial for ‘anti-government plot’

22.11.2011, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15836733

Journalists displayed posters outside the court in support of their colleagues

Two prominent Turkish journalists have gone on trial accused of involvement in a plot to topple the government.

Ahmet Sik and Nedim Sener are accused of being part of Ergenekon, allegedly a secret military-backed organisation.

They are among thirteen defendants, who include writer Yalcin Kucuk – a staunch government critic.

Their supporters say the trial is based on fabricated evidence and aims to silence government opponents.

JOURNALISTS STILL HARASSED DESPITE PROGRESS WITH DEMOCRACY

PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2011. UPDATED ON THURSDAY 28 APRIL 2011.

[cited from http://en.rsf.org/turquie-journalists-still-harassed-despite-19-04-2011,40047.html

“We came to Istanbul to express our concern about the state of press freedom in Turkey. Even if progress has been made since the 1990s when journalists were being imprisoned in their hundreds, there is a lot still left to do. Turkey is still not a country that respects press freedom. Journalists need to have plenty of courage to do their job. It is a dangerous profession which exposes them to the risk of prison, threats and physical violence. It is worrying to note that all journalists are under threat, no longer just those who cover the army or Kurdish issues as was the case 15 years ago. We call on the Turkish authorities to make the defence of press freedom a national priority. The prime minister should demonstrate his commitment to defending the right of journalists to express themselves freely. Until now, he has not done so”, said Reporters Without Borders at the conclusion of a six-day investigative visit to Turkey.

Arrested Journalist’s Book Claims Turkish Police Infiltrated by Islamic Movement

By Jürgen Gottschlich in Istanbul, 4 June, 2011

[ cited from http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,755508,00.html ]

AP

Islamic theologian Fethullah Gülen (1998 photograph). An unpublished book by a recently arrested Turkish journalist alleges that his Gülen movement has infiltrated Turkey’s police force.

Islamic theologian Fethullah Gülen is one of the most powerful men in Turkey, even though he lives in exile in the US. The recent arrest of prominent Turkish journalist Ahmet Sik shows what can happen to those who cross his Gülen movement. Sik was about to publish a book alleging that Gülen sympathizers have infiltrated Turkey’s police force.

Fikret Ilkiz makes an elegant impression, with his graying hair, slender facial features and his expensive suit jacket. The lawyer speaks succinctly, but with a precision that has an incisive quality. 

Finkel’s Dilemma

Stratos Moraitis on Apr 07, 2011

[cited from http://www.theglobetimes.com/2011/04/07/finkels-dilemma/?sms_ss=twitter&at_xt=4d9e10df3c15a696,0 ]

Andrew Finkel, renown columnist of Today’s Zaman, the english edition of Turkish daily Zaman was fired because of an article he wrote (but not published).

Zaman papers are owned by Fethullan Gülen movement and considered to be close to AKP government. Lately Islamist Gülen’s followers were accused of infiltrating security forces ranks as well as bureaucratic ranks. A book written by Ahmet Şık about Gülen’s organization was banned before it was published
and Şık was arrested.

In the article that caused him his job Finkel writes about his hopes and aspirations when he accepted the position of a columnist in Today’s Zaman:

“Turkey is a nation which has declared itself engaged in a process of reform. It is redefining many of its values. It is re-examining [the] cherished notion of sovereignty as it negotiates with Brussels. It is rethinking international priorities as it eyes troubles in the Middle East. It is looking harder at the received wisdom about its history and traditions. At the ballot box, in the work place or in meetings with teachers after school, it is redefining the individual’s relationship to the community and the state. This is not a time for ‘us’ and ‘them’, for one set of truths for home and one set for abroad.”