Journalists Cemal, Güç, Mater, Eryılmaz Testify

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Journalist and bianet Project Consultant Nadire Mater, journalists Tuğrul Eryılmaz, Hasan Cemal and Mehmet Güç are testifying today (September 23) at İstanbul Courthouse for joining the “Editor-in-Chief on Watch” campaign launched in support of the Özgür Gündem daily.

First, Hasan Cemal and Mehmt Güç have testified already.

Cemal: “No legal action was taken even after meeting with Öcalan”

Hasan Cemal said in his testimony: “I have been writing for the T24 news site for three years as a journalist. I served as editor-in-chief on watch for the daily called Özgür Gündem for one day on June 15, 2016. I have been a journalist for 47 years. During this period, I participated in many activities during my career, from being a correspondent to an editor-in-chief. I accepted the editorship-in-chief of Özgür Gündem as an act of journalistic solidarity. I am of the belief that Kurdish journalists are as free as Turkish journalists.

“Me serving as editor-in-chief at Özgür Gündem doesn’t mean that I approve of all the content, but I am a person who accepts that everyone is free to express their opinions within the scope of the freedom of the press.

“I’ve lived as a journalist in almost all stages of the Kurdish question. I personally went to Qandil and met with managers of the organization [Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)]. I met with [PKK Leader] Abdullah Öcalan in the Beqaa. Even though some rumors were spread about me, no legal action was taken. The main target of journalistic activities is to achieve peace. I deny the charges. I am innocent”.

Güç: Reports are within the scope of freedom of expression

Mehmet Güç said in his testimony: “I was the editor-in-chief of the issue dated May 22, 2016 published by the daily called Özgür Gündem. I am of the opinion that the reports that have been subjected to the probe are within the scope of the freedom of the press and expression. I learned through the press that many journalists served as editor-in-chief on watch for Özgür Gündem. They called me from Özgür Gündem and I served as editor-in-chief on watch for one day. I deny the charges. I am innocent. I had seen the articles and reports to be published but I left the building before I saw the issue of the daily”.

Mater: I went there to act in solidarity

Submitting to the prosecutor the BIA Media Monitoring reports and 10 Years in Freedom of Expression published by the İPS Communication Foundation, Mater said in her testimony:

“I have been practicing journalism. I am the İPS Communication Foundation Chair and at the same time I work as consultant at the bianet.org news site. I went to Özgür Gündem to act in solidarity with the journalists. I served as editor-in-chief on watch for one day. I participated in this campaign since I believe in the right to information and journalists’ right to report. I also attended the news meeting, however, I didn’t have the chance to read all the reports. I am of the opinion that the reports released are within the scope of the freedom of the press and expression. I deny the charges.

Eryılmaz: People have a right to information

Tuğrul Eryılmaz said in his testimony:

“I have been practicing journalism for almost 40 years. I am a member of the journalists association ethics board. I went to Özgür Gündem to act in solidarity with the journalists. I joined this campaign because I believe in people’s right to information and journalists’ right to report. My understanding of journalism stipulates this. My whole concern was the occupational solidarity.

Nadire Mater, Yıldırım Türker, Tuğrul Eryılmaz, Faruk Balıkçı and Veysi Altay had gone to İstanbul Courthouse to testify on June 27, but Prosecutor Gökhan Yolasığmaz didn’t come to his office.

13 people participating in the “Editor-in-Chief on Watch” campaign were summoned to testify. A verdict of non-prosecution was announced for nine people. The trial of 12 people will be heard until November 8.

What had happened?

Since the recommencement of armed conflicts on in July 24 2015, which coincided with the interruption of the resolution process, Özgür Gündem has faced countless investigations, charges and instances of censorships. Against the oppressive measures, the campaign “Editorship- in- Chief on Watch” campaign was launched on May 3 in solidarity with the newspaper. The “Editorship-in-Chief on Watch” campaign was launched on May 3 against the oppressive measures and in solidarity with the newspaper.

TİHV President Fincancı, RSF Turkey Representative and bianet rapporteur Önderoğlu and journalist author Nesin were arrested on the charge of "terror propaganda" for joining Özgür Gündem's Editor-in-Chief on Watch campaign. They were and later released pending trial.

İstanbul 8th Criminal Court of Peace shut down Özgür Gündem newspaper on August 16. The verdict decision said that the newspaper would be “temporarily shut down” but did not mention how long it would remain closed.

Following the court’s decision, police raided the newspaper’s headquarters. 22 people were taken into custody.

Police have also raided the apartment of Filiz Koçali and Eren Keskin, as well as Sinan Zarakolu, who was registered at the same address. Sinan Zarakolu is the son of publisher, columnist and journalist Ragıp Zarakolu, who was registered at the same address.

On August 19, Özgür Gündem Publishing Consultant Board member Aslı Erdoğan was arrested.

On August 22, Özgür Gündem’s Editor-in-Chief Zana Kaya and Chief Editor İnan Kızılkaya were arrested on the charge of “being a member of an [illegal] organization.

On August 31, Necmiye Alpay, Özgür Gündem’s Publishing Consultant Board member, linguist and writer, was also arrested on the charges of “being a member of an armed terrorist organization” and “subverting the unity and integrity of the state”.

On September 1, nine people from the watch’s administration were asked by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to appear before the Press Bar within 15 days.

The nine were journalist and bianet Project Advisor Nadire Mater, journalists Tuğrul Eryılmaz, Hasan Cemal, Hasan Hüseyin Tahmaz and Dicle Anter, Özgür Radio’s General Coordinator Derya Okatan, Executive Editor of the closed haberdar.com website, writer Murat Uyurkulak, and HDP Central Executive Committee member Çilem Küçükkeleş. News reports published on about the watch campaign were provided as justification for the investigations against them. (NV/TK)