Disabled Wife of Journalist Boyraz Harassed at Work

Because of news items published by editor Seyfi Boyraz in Can Haber newspaper, the journalist's wife Meltem Boyraz, part of the municipality's disabled staff, was transferred to the Ayniyat Storehouse. Can Haber newspaper is published weekly in Karadeniz Ereğli, Zonguldak, on the western coast of the Black Sea.

According to Boyraz, his wife's recent appointment to a work place which is unsuitable for a disabled person stems from 2 news articles the journalist published on 2 November, entitled "The Municipality Works for the Mayor' and 'Is Posbıyık a Suspect in the Trial about the Gang?'.

Municipality officials who talked to bianet about the allegation viewed the mayor's decision as "a normal internal decision" and did not want to make any further comments on the matter.

"Restriction of our right to make news"

Boyraz said that Posbıyık called him on the morning of 1 November when he prepared for the publication of the weekly. Apparently, Posbıyık was already informed about both articles and said he would deal with it himself in case the news would be published. The journalist was rather dispirited by the procedures and took his annual leave on 10 November.

Journalist Boyraz highlighted that at 8.10 am on the very day the news had been published, an official letter signed by mayor Posbıyık was issued to Boyraz's wife, informing her about her being appointed to the Ayniyat Storehouse in Potbaşı. "Halil Posbıyık is trying to restrict my freedom to make news by imposing pressure on me upon my wife who is his employee", Boyraz claimed.

"Because of polio my wife is orthopedically disabled and her medical report attests a disability of 40 percent. Her new workplace is not suitable for a disabled person. The toilet for instance can only be accessed via a steep metal flight of stairs with 15-20 steps. There is no way that my wife can go up the stairs on her own. The workplace my wife has been appointed to is one of the farthest away of the municipality", Boyraz explained.

Seyfi Boyraz works as a journalist since 1989. At the same time, he is also the Karadeniz Ereğli representative of Zirve newspaper from Zonguldak

The news on subject

In January 2009 the "Operation Steel 2" was carried out by the Karadeniz Ereğlisi police. During this operation a total of 15 people were arrested, among them the then mayor Murat Sesli, Trade and Industry Chamber chairman Ahmet Nikoğlu and 3 police officers. Before the operation Posbıyık said "The municipality is managed by the mafia, shylocks siphon off the money".

In March, the police arrested Posbıyık who was running for the Republican People's Party (CHP) candidacy for mayor. After he had been released Posbıyık declared, "They just asked for some information. I was not arrested". Finally, the newspaper announced that Posbıyık was prosecuted regarding a gang. Additionally, the newspaper had reported about Posbıyık announcing that streets could not be built due to lack of resources, while he had built the street in front of his house. (EÖ/VK)