Grant Holder and Managing Editor of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi Arrested

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The Grant Holder of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper İhsan Yaşar and its Managing Editor İshak Yasul have been arrested after a trustee has been appointed to the newspaper.

The Prosecutor's Office sent Yaşar and Yasul to court for arrest on charges of "membership of an illegal organization" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization." After giving their depositions, Yaşar and Yasul have been arrested on the related charges.

Seven employees and editors of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper, who were taken into custody at midnight on April 4, are still being held at Istanbul Security Directorate.

Those who are still in custody are the editors Mehmet Ali Çelebi, Reyhan Hacıoğlu and Hicran Urun; the employees Pınar Tarlak, Ramazan Sola and Nedim Demirkıran and a former employee Mehmet Beyazıt.

What happened?

On March 28, police raided the central office of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper in the district of Beyoğlu in İstanbul and the Gün Printing House, where the issues of the newspaper were printed.

When the attorneys reached the central office of the newspaper, there was someone in suit who said that he was an official from the Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF). Although it was alleged that a trustee was appointed to the newspaper, it could not be officially confirmed.

During the raids on March 28 and the house raids on the following days, 33 people from the Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper and Gün Printing House were taken into custody, including the Grant Holder of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi İhsan Yaşar, its Managing Editor İshak Yasul and the owner of Gün Printing House Kasım Zengin.

On April 5, eight people were arrested on charge of "aiding an illegal organization knowingly and willfully as non-members." 12 other people, including the owner of Gün Printing House Kasım Zengin were also arrested on charges of "membership of an illegal organization" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization."

About Özgürlükçü Demokrasi Newspaper

After Özgür Gündem newspaper was closed on August 16, 2016, Özgürlükçü Gündem newspaper started to be published on August 23, 2016.

Started to be published by Nesrin Media, Publishing and Distribution, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi was recently published and distributed by Engin Media, Publishing Industry and Trade Limited Company.

The newspaper reported the arrests of Özgür Gündem's Executive Editor Zana Kaya and its Editor-in-Chief İnan Kızılkaya in the subheading of its first issue. Kaya and Kızılkaya were arrested on August 22, 2016. Kaya was released on December 29, 2016 and Kızılkaya on November 1, 2017. (ÇT/SD)