18 Journalists Accused of “Propagandizing Terrorist Organization”
Public Prosecutor of İstanbul drafted an indictment against managing directors and officials of nine newspapers which published the photos of prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz who lost his life during a rescue operation of the police in İstanbul Çağlayan Courthouse on March 31, 2015.
18 journalists from nine newspapers are demanded to be sentenced to 1.5 to 7.5 years in prison.
Aforementioned nine newspapers are: Cumhuriyet, Şok, Millet, Posta, Yurt, Bugün, Özgür Gündem, Aydınlık and BirGün.
The names of accused journalists
Şok Newspaper Managing Director Kaan Özbek and its official Orhan Duman, Millet Newspaper Managing Director Sedat Gülmez and its official Cuma Ulus, Posta Newspaper Managing Director Seçil Şengelir and its official Mehmet Emin Öztürk, Yurt Newspaper Managing Director Başak Günsever and its official Orhan Şahin, Bugün Newspaper Managing Director Gökhan Çorbacı and its official Temel Tanadalan, Cumhuriyet Newspaper Managing Director Abbas Yalçın and its official Can Dündar, Özgür Gündem Newspaper Managing DirectorReyhan Çapan and its official Eren Keskin, Aydınlık Newspaper Managing Director Murat Şimşek and its official Mehmet Sabuncu ve Birgün Newspaper Managing Director Berkant Gültekin and its official İbrahim Aydın.
Prosecutor Kiraz and two members of the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP/C) had died during the police operation on March 31, 2015.
Censorship and punishment for the news
Press Advertisement Institute (BİK), banned 39 newspapers from publishing advertisements for 1 to 12 days, 10 journalists and artists were launched an investigation since they tweeted the incident, 166 news websites were blocked and 13 media organs weren’t accredited after the death of Prosecutor Kiraz's death.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said “Some media organs have the immorality to publish the photos of the prosecutor held by gunmen. We will do the necessary,” while The President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told “We will evaluate the situation.”(EA/BD)
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