Reactions Against Detentions from Freedom of Expression, Human Rights Organizations

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Freedom of expression and human rights organizations, Committee of Protecting Journalist (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the Amnesty statements have reacted against the detention warrant issued on 42 journalists within frame of the probe launched into Gülen Community.

CPJ: It mustn’t be journalists to pay the price for the coup

CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator, Nina Ognianova remarking "Journalists should not pay the price for military officers' unlawful attempt to overthrow the government”, has said “We call on Turkish authorities to stop imprisoning journalists for their views”.

RSF: Democracy cannot be protected by trampling on freedoms

“No one disputes the Turkish government’s legitimate right to defend constitutional order after this abortive coup but democracy, for which hundreds of civilians gave their lives, cannot be protected by trampling on fundamental freedoms,” said Johann Bihr, the head of RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk.

“The wholesale and arbitrary nature of the attacks on the Turkish media in the past week seems to reflect a desire to exact revenge and bring them into line. It is time the authorities put a stop to this.”

Amnesty: Distinction between criminal acts and legitimate criticism cannot be drawn

“This is the latest alarming development in what is increasingly becoming a brazen purge based on political affiliation,” said Gauri van Gulik, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Europe.

“By rounding up journalists the government is failing to make a distinction between criminal acts and legitimate criticism. Rather than stifling press freedom and intimidating journalists into silence it is vital that Turkish authorities allow the media to do their work and end this draconian clampdown on freedom of expression.”

What had happened?

Detention warrant has been issued on 42 journalists within scope of the probe launched into Fethullah Gülen Community following the July 15 coup attempt.

Yakup Sağlam, İbrahim Balta, Seyit Kılıç, Bayram Kaya, Cihan Acar, Nazlı Ilıcak and Hanım Büşra Erdal have been taken into custody.

Other figures who face detention warrant are as follows:

Abdullah Abdulkadiroğlu, Abdullah Kılıç, Ahmet Dönmez, Ali Akkuş, Arda Akın, Bilal Şahin, Bülent Ceyhan, Bülent Mumay, Bünyamin Köseli, Azmi Cemal Kalyoncu, Cevheri Güven, Cuma Ulus, Emre Soncan, Ercan Gün, Erkan Akkuş, Ertuğrul Erbaş, Fatih Akalan, Fatih Yağmur, Habip Güler, Haşim Söylemez, Hüseyin Aydın, Kamil Maman, Kerim Gün, Levent Kenez, Mahmut Hazar, Mehmet Gündem, Metin Yıkar,Muhammed Fatih Uğur, Mustafa Erkan Acar, Mürsel Genç, Selahattin Sevi, Turan Görüryılmaz, Ufuk Şanlı, Ufuk Emin Köroğlu and Yakup Çetin. (EA/TK)