Evrensel Reporters Uğur, Polat Released

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Following the 16-day detention, Evrensel daily newspaper reporters Cemil Uğur and Halil İbrahim have been released on probation.

Uğur and Polat had been detained in Mersin while they were reporting of the “Freedom Watch” in Mersin on August 23, and had not been allowed to see their attorneys for five days.

Kept in detention for 16 days, the reporters Uğur and Polat were sent to Criminal Judicatory of Peace for arrest without being asked for testimony.

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and many occupational organizations demanded immediate release of the reporters.

Interviewing with the Evrensel daily, Uğur and Polat explained what they lived during the detention.

Uğur said crackdowns on journalists are on the increase and that they were charged with “being a member of a terror organization” even though they had just their cameras on them.

Stating that the window was open at Yenişehir District Security Directorate where they testified, Uğur said that the police told them “If we throw you out of the window like Metin Göktepe, you will either die or become permanently disable and no one can say anything about it. We are in the State of Emergency”.

Stressing that they could barely talk to their attorneys during the detention, Polat said “We are journalists. We were there to practice journalism”, and added that they will continue to do their duty. (NV/TK)