Turkish Cypriot Journalists Arrested

Sener Levent, the director of the Afrika newspaper published in TRNC, and writer Memduh Ener, were arrested and sent to prison because of an article called Who is the Biggest Traitor? Cypriot journalists union criticized the arrests.

Erol Önderoğlu

Sener Levent, the director of the "Afrika" (Africa) ewspaper published in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) nd writer Memduh Ener, ere arrested after their trial Thursday, August 8, and sent to prison. Cypriot journalists' nion made a statement to criticize the arrests.

Two journalists are in prison

On August 8, a Nicosia court handed out 6 months of prison sentences to Sener Levent, the director of the "Afrika" newspaper and its 70-year old writer Memduh Ener. The two journalists were arrested and sent to prison after the hearing.

They were charged with "insult" for an article called "Who is the Biggest Traitor?" which got published in the "Avrupa" (Europe) newspaper on July 29, 1999.

The union criticized the arrests

The Cypriot journalists' union made a statement to criticize the arrests

It was Avrupa, now it's Afrika

"Avrupa" newspaper faced a lot of pressure in its last years. Its printing office was set on fire and its writers were sent to prison. On these incidents, the newspaper changed its name and ironically took on the name, "Afrika" (BB/EA/NM)

Erol Önderoğlu

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İstanbul Üniversitesi Fransız Filolojisi Bölümü'nden mezun. 1996'da muhabiri olduğu uluslararası Sınır Tanımayan Gazeteciler (RSF) örgütünün Türkiye temsilcisi olarak çalışıyor. 1999'dan beri İPS İletişim Vakfı'nın projesi olan bianet sitesinde, Hukuki Destek Masası koordinatörü, ifade özgürlüğü editörü ve yayın yönetmeni olarak çalıştı. 4.800'den fazla imzalı haber ve makalesi bulunuyor. Bizim Gazete ve Güncel Hukuk dergisi için haber ve makaleler yazdı. Halen bianet'te Medya Gözlem Raporları'nı hazırlıyor.