3 Journalists Arrested in a Week

* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency

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Taken into custody in Kahta in Turkey's eastern province of Adıyaman on November 27, journalist Hacı Yusuf Topaloğlu has been arrested on charge of "membership of a terrorist organization".

Topaloğlu was brought to Adıyaman Courthouse earlier today (December 5) after his formalities at the police department were completed.

Topaloğlu, a reporter for the Dicle News Agency (DİHA), which was closed by a Statutory Decree, was taken into custody as part of an investigation against him. As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), after Topaloğlu deposed to the prosecutor's office, the office referred him to the Penal Judgeship of Peace and requested his arrest.

The judgeship has ruled that journalist Hacı Yusuf Topaloğlu shall be arrested on charge of "membership of a terrorist organization" based on the statements of an anonymous witness.

What happened?

On November 27, the police raided several homes in the provinces of Ankara, Antep, Urfa, Diyarbakır, Batman, Ağrı and Adıyaman.

Several people were taken into custody in the raids, including former MPs and executives of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) as well as executives and members of the Human Rights Association (İHD) and Health and Social Service Laborers Union (SES). DİHA reporter Hacı Yusuf Topaloğlu was also detained as part of these operations.

2 journalists were also arrested in İstanbul

Taken into custody shortly after they left the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) office in Beyoğlu, İstanbul on November 29, journalists Sadiye Eser and Sadık Topaloğlu were also arrested on December 3.

As reported by the MA, the prosecutor's office referred the journalists to the İstanbul 3rd Penal Judgeship of Peace without taking their depositions. 

After the defendants and the attorney made their defense, the court has ruled that Eser and Topaloğlu shall be arrested on charge of "being members of a terrorist organization." (RT/SD)