Investigation into 5 Özgür Gündem Editors in Chief on Watch

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Investigation has been launched into five journalists and authors supporting the “Co-Editorship-in-Chief” campaign launched by Özgür Gündem daily to show solidarity and defend press freedom against oppressions and investigations.

The investigation has been launched into Ertuğrul Mavioğlu, Faruk Eren, Ayşe Düzkan, Mustafa Sönmez and Melda Onur who have representatively taken on the position of Editor in Chief each for one day in Özgür Gündem daily.  

Eren and Düzkan who are also executives in Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) - Press made a statement criticizing the investigation.

Reaction from DİSK-Press

Noting that the journalists had been summoned to give testimony as to the accusations of “propagandizing for the terrorist organization”, “inciting to crime” appearing on the newspapers on the days on which the journalists have taken part in the campaign, the union has made the following organization:

“As DİSK-Press, we would like to reiterate that we will not compromise in our struggle for press freedom, be watchers over the legal process, and will bring the issue both in Turkey and on the universal level to the agenda of union struggle and press freedom. We will keep on standing by the all the oppressed journalists like we have till now”.

CLICK  - 16 JOURNALISTS BECOME EDITOR IN CHIEF ON WATCH FOR ÖZGÜR GÜNDEM DAILY

Within the campaign launched on May 3 World Press Freedom Day, Association of Free Journalists (ÖGC) Co-Chairs Nevin Erdemir and Hakkı Boltan became the first co-editors in chief.  The shift has been over by Melda Onur, Ertuğrul Mavioğlu, Eşber Yağmurdereli, Erol Önderoğlu, Ayşe Düzkan, Fehim Işık, Yıldırım Türker, Mustafa Sönmez, Faruk Eren, Ahmet Abakay, Celal Başlangıç, Uğur Güç, Nurcan Baysal and Ragıp Duran.

(EA/DG)