Passports of Journalists Başlangıç, Yıldırım Rendered Invalid

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Passports of journalist Celal Başlangıç and Cumhuriyet daily columnist Ayşe Yıldırım have been rendered invalid.

Speaking to bianet, Başlangıç explained:

“Passport bureau [of Security Directorate] asked court to cancel my passport as part of my trial heard by 14th Heavy Penal Court because of my service as editor-in-chief on watch Özgür Gündem [daily]. However, chief judge didn’t approve that and told them that they misinterpret the Statutory Decree. I have this ruling but we’ve learned in the airport that my and my wife’s passports were rendered invalid by the Security Directorate as we were going abroad. We have been given no justification. I don’t know why they cancelled my wife’s [passport], we don’t know if they did it because she is a journalist or just because she is my wife”.

Participating in the “Editor-in-Chief on Watch” campaign launched to act in solidarity with Özgür Gündem, journalist Başlangıç is being tried on charges of “Openly inciting to commit crime”, “Praising crime and criminal” and “Propagandizing for a terror organization”

Başlangıç pled at İstanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court yesterday (October 4). (NV/TK)