Investigation against Zarakolu over being Roj TV Correspondent
Another investigation has been started against journalist and human rights defender Ragıp Zarakolu.
Zarakolu has been accused of being member of terror organization, the evidence called for this accusation is the interview he gave to Roj TV in 2010.
It was stated that the investigation case was opened in 2010 by Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and turned into a new investigation file titled " Investigating Crimes against Constitutional Order" by Prosecutor Ramazan Dinç.
Zarakolu was arrested over aiding terror organization charges in 2011 and released by the court after kept in prison for 5 months. The justification is that he joined Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) opening of Political Academy a couple of years ago and gave a small speech. During this investigation, the investigation started in 2010 hadn't come out.
Zarakolu states that in the accusation there is an allegation that "Since the TV channel contacted him, then he must be a 'reporter' of this TV channel, and since this TV channel belongs to terror organization according to the claim, then he himself is also a member of terror organization."
Zarakolu in his testimony stated "he has been doing journalism for over 40 years as of 1968; he even forgot the number of national and international media organs he issued opinion, and he didn't ask any of the channels their color, race, or political ideology."
He responded to allegation of being a correspondent by saying he has been doing chief-editorship for many periodical or non-periodical publications and
Fatih Polat faced similar accusations
A similar accusation has been directed against Evrensel newspaper chief-editor Fatih Polat too in June. Polat faces accusations of "being correspondent to Roj TV", "being member of armed terror organization" and "promoting armed terror organization". Polat in his statement had said "he has been doing journalism at Evrensel as of its founding year of 1995 and been carrying on duty of chief-editorship."
Roj TV shut down in 2012
Roj TV began its broadcasting life in 2004 in Denmark. Copenhagen City Court filed a claim in 2010 alleging the TV was "supported by Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)" and "promoting terrorism". The case was concluded in 2012 and the channel was fined for 670,000 euros. Denmark cancelled broadcasting license on the same days Roj TV declared bankruptcy on July 3. (HK/TK)