Journalist Merdan Yanardağ detained after criticizing confinement of PKK leader

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Merdan Yanardağ, a well-known journalist in Turkey, has been detained in an investigation into his remarks about the leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had initiated an investigation against the editor-in-chief of the TELE1 channel for "praising crime and criminals" and "making propaganda for a terrorist organization."

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) is also investigating TELE1 regarding the issue.

During a program on TELE1, Yanardağ had commented on statements made by Galip Ensarioğlu, an MP of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), regarding the possibility of the government initiating a new "resolution process" for the Kurdish issue. Ensarioğlu had stated that "Öcalan is more sincere than the PKK" in reference to the resolution process that ended in 2015.

In his statement, Yanardağ had said, "There is no legal basis for the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan. It should be lifted. He cannot even meet with his family or his lawyers. How a penal execution system is this?

"He is the longest-serving political prisoner in Turkey. If normal execution laws were in place, he should actually be released, placed under house arrest, and so on.

"But you are holding him hostage, bargaining with him. You are threatening through him.

"Abdullah Öcalan is not someone to be taken lightly. He has almost become a philosopher in prison because he does nothing but read. He is an extremely intelligent person who understands politics correctly, observes correctly, and analyzes correctly."

Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK, has been permitted only a few visits with his lawyers and family members since his incarceration in 1999

Investigations into Yanardağ's statements came after AKP deputy Mehmet Ali Çelebi shared a portion of his remarks on social media.

"I criticized AKP's hypocrisy"

Shortly before his detention, Yanardağ told bianet that "my words were distorted" as he had not intended to praise Öcalan but to criticize MP Ensarioğlu's remarks.

"This is not a stance of praising Abdullah Öcalan. I am criticizing the path that the resolution process has taken."

"I spoke about how the penal execution law should be in a democratic country and why isolation should be lifted. It is not about praising or criticizing anyone.

"Additionally, I mentioned that the AKP has initiated a new resolution process that could end in betrayal, just like the previous one. So, there is criticism directed towards the AKP. It is criticism of the AKP's political hypocrisy."

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(HA/VK)