Journalist Arrested For Submitting Files on Sledgehammer Case

Mehmet Baransu, Taraf newspaper columnist, has been arrested within an investigation around the allegations that Turkey’s Sledgehammer case defendants have been set up to be arrested.

The incident took place yesterday when he was detained following an anti-terror police raid to the apartment of Baransu and searched of his desk as late as 9 pm local time. The ruling was issued by a court. 

“My friends, don’t ever submit a document to a court as a journalist,” Baransu said. Baransu also claimed that he was charged with being an illegal organization leader for submitting a document to the court. 

On the other hand, Baransu’s lawyer avukatı Sıddık Filiz told Taraf newspaper that the search and detention orders were issued by Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office on Terror and Organized Crime regarding an investigation on Turkey’s Sledgehammer (Balyoz) case where defendants including retired and duty generals were facing charges for overthrowing the AKP government. 

Filiz also added that Baransu’s charges were related to submitting documents to a court after he wrote an article entitled “The name of Coup is Sledgehammer. He is also charged with “releasing confidential documents.” (EKN/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.