Journalist Şener at Court for the First Time after his Arrest

On Monday (19 April), journalist Nedim Şener, detained at the Silivri Prison west of Istanbul, was taken to court for the first time since his arrest. Şener was taken into custody on 3 March and arrested three days later in the context of the Ergenekon probe. He is being prosecuted on the grounds of an alleged violation of confidentiality regarding the investigation about former Chief of Police Hanefi Avcı in a news item prepared by Şener. He was brought to a hearing at the Bakırköy (Istanbul) Courthouse.

The indictment prepared by the Bakırköy Public Chief Prosecution is based on the article entitled "Şenay Avcı: Identities were part of the duty" published in Milliyet newspaper on 30 September. It allegedly showed Avcı as a suspect and violated the confidentiality of the investigation carried out by the Istanbul Special Authority Public Chief Prosecution.

Şener is facing imprisonment of between 1.5 and 4.5 years in the scope of this trial according to Article 285/1 and 3of the Turkish Criminal Law (Violation of Communications). The case was postponed to 31 May.

Colleagues, friends and family members of Şener gathered in front of the Bakırköy Courthouse at 9.00 am to support the journalist. Among the supporters were Orhan Dink, Radikal newspaper reporter Ertuğrul Mavioğlu, Hürriyet newspaper writer Sedat Ergin, Star TV host Uğur Dündar and businessman Osman Kavala.

The people waiting at the entrance of the court room of the 2^nd Criminal Court of First Instance welcomed Şener with applause. The journalist obviously appreciated the support from his friends and family and his colleagues.

"Nedim Şener hit the beehive"

A group calling itself "friends and colleagues of Ahmet and Nedim" made a press release after the hearing. Besides Şener, the group also supports journalist Ahmet Şık who was arrested together with Şener.

"Şener was arrested because he is a good journalist. Also international press organizations and humanitarian aid organizations say that he is a good journalist. His name is on the list of the 60 'World Press Freedom Heroes' issued by the International Press Institute (IPI). He stands right next to Hrant Dink and Abdi İpekçi. The Dutch humanitarian aid organization Oxfam Novib bestowed the PEN Freedom of Expression Award to Şener last year", the group announced.

"So why is Şener in prison now? Because he hit the beehive and did not step back from telling the truth". The group underlined that the problems for Şener started after his book "The Dink murder and the lies of the Intelligence" had been published; a book about the background of the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. Dink is facing imprisonment of 28 years in total in the scope of two trials opened because of the book.

The group criticized, "On 1 March, Şener wrote in his column in the Posta newspaper 'I may become the victim of an accident or of defamation at any time.' Two days later, he was taken into police custody. The statement of the prosecutor's office and the court records imply that Şener was arrested by reason of his journalistic activities. This is unacceptable in any democratic country of the world".

"The oppression of press freedom does not only mean to fetter journalists. At the same time, it restricts the society's freedom to be informed. You should know that we will touch [certain issues] even if we will get burned! And we must not forget that everybody will need justice one day", the group declared.

Şık was not taken to court because of "lack of transportation means"

Journalist Ahmet Şık, also arrested on 6 March and detained under allegations of "assisting and abetting the Ergenekon organization", was not brought to his hearing at the Kadıköy (Istanbul) Courthouse last week because reportedly there was no suitable vehicle available.

Şık is facing prison terms of up to 4.5 years on the grounds of the books "Understanding the counter guerrilla and Ergenekon" and "Who is who in Ergenekon" written by journalists Ahmet Şık and Ertuğrul Mavioğlu.

The clandestine ultra-nationalist Ergenekon organization is charged with plotting to overthrow the ruling Justice and Development government. (AS/EÖ)