EU Denounces Arrest of Altan: Freedom of Expression Key to Functioning Democracy

* Photo: Tansel Parlak / AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

The İstanbul 27th Heavy Penal Court has accepted the objection raised by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the release of journalist and writer Ahmet Altan, who was released from prison on November 4 after serving 1,138 days behind bars. Altan has been arrested again.

CLICK - Journalist and Writer Ahmet Altan Arrested

As an arrest warrant was issued against him, Altan was detained yesterday evening (November 12). International freedom of expression organizations as well as the European Union (EU) have denounced the detention of Altan and his ensuing imprisonment.

In a statement released by the European External Action Service (EEAS) of the EU, it has been indicated that the renewed imprisonment of Altan "has further damaged the credibility of Turkey's judiciary, in particular due to the high level of political interference." 

While Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has indicated that "the court has ruled for his arrest only one week after he was released", Article 19 has said, "Novelist Ahmet Altan has been rearrested after one week of freedom."

EU: It damages credibility of Turkey's judiciary

The EU has released the following statement on Altan:

"Journalist Ahmet Altan, who was kept in detention like many other journalists and representatives of media organisations in Turkey, was re-arrested yesterday, only a week after his release, on the grounds that there was a flight risk. He had not even been served the decision when some media were already reporting on it.

"The lack of credible grounds to re-arrest Ahmet Altan and his renewed imprisonment, reversing the court's initial decision to release him, further damages the credibility of Turkey's judiciary, in particular due to the high level of political interference. This interference needs to halt.

"Media freedom and freedom of expression are key to a functioning democracy. The EU has at all levels and in all fora expressed its opposition on the persistent erosion of press freedom in Turkey and, in particular, at the high number of journalists imprisoned there. Journalists need to do their job – they do not belong in jail."

RSF: A parody of the judicial system

Releasing a statement about the detention of Altan on its website, the RSF has "denounced the scandalous decision to cancel the release of well-known Turkish journalist Ahmet Altan."

"This is a tragic twist, revealing the parody of the judicial system currently at work in Turkey", the organization has said and stated the following in brief:

"A week after his release, journalist Ahmet Altan will be sent back to prison. The Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office appealed against the decision taken on November 4 to release him under judicial supervision.

"This new decision highlights an incredible relentlessness against one of the most brilliant Turkish journalists, denounces the general secretary of RSF, Christophe Deloire. Ahmet Altan has already spent more than three years in prison for nothing, without any evidence of the charges against him. "

Article 19: Case lacks a shred of credible evidence

Thomas Hughes, the Executive Director of Article 19, has also responded:

"Ahmet Altan was unjustly imprisoned for over three years while defending himself against trumped up coup charges. Re-arresting him just a week after his release amounts to psychological torture. Refusing to tell his lawyer whether or not he would be arrested added insult to injury.

"The whole situation is horribly reminiscent of his release and re-arrest in September 2016. Just as then, Altan has criticised the Turkish authorities following his release and they appear to be determined to punish him for this.

"The terrorism charges against Altan have always been politically motivated and the entire case lacks even a shred of credible evidence. The Turkish authorities must immediately cease this cruel judicial harassment of Altan."

Prosecutor's office objected two days later

After journalist and writer Ahmet Altan was sentenced to 10 years, 6 months in prison on charge of "knowingly aiding the organization as a non-member" and released from prison considering the time he had already served behind bars, the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office objected to the verdict of release two days later on November 6.

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office lodged its objection at the upper court, the İstanbul 27th Heavy Penal Court.

Referring to the Articles 98 and 100 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), the Prosecutor's Office requested that an arrest warrant be issued against Altan on the ground that "judicial control measures do not serve their purposes considering his suspicion of escape, conviction of a predicate offense, his position, title and intensity of actions, the length of his prison sentence, the time he served in prison and prolongation of his actions."

What happened?

Shortly after the İstanbul 26th Heavy Penal Court ruled for their release in the retrial held in the wake of a Court of Cassation verdict of reversal, journalist and writer Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak were released from Silivri Prison and Bakırköy Women's Prison on November 4.

Announcing its verdict, the court ruled that Ahmet Altan should be sentenced to 10 years, 6 months in prison on charge of "knowingly aiding the organization as a non-member" and Nazlı Ilıcak should be sentenced to 8 years, 9 months in prison on the same charge. Considering the nature of the crime and the time that they had already served in prison, the court ruled that Altan and Ilıcak should be released on probation.

The court has also ruled that Mehmet Altan shall be acquitted on the ground that evidence could not be obtained. (HA/SD)

CLICK - Verdict of Release for Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak, Acquittal for Mehmet Altan

CLICK - Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak Released