Journalist Merdan Yanardağ remanded in custody over 'PKK' remarks

Click to read the artile in Turkish

An İstanbul court has arrested journalist Merdan Yanardağ after his detention yesterday in an investigation for "praising crime and criminals" and "making propaganda for a terrorist organization."

The investigation concerns Yanardağ's remarks about Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). During a program on TELE1, where Yanardağ serves as the chief editor, he criticized the authorities for not allowing Öcalan to meet with his family and lawyers.

"He is the longest-serving political prisoner in Turkey. If normal execution laws were in place, he should actually be released," he had said. "But you are holding him hostage, bargaining with him. You are threatening through him."

Spending the night under custody, Yanardağ was referred to the court early today. In accordance with the prosecutor's request, the court remanded Yanardağ in custody for "propaganda" crime.

Since his incarceration in 1999, Öcalan has been permitted only a few visits with his lawyers and family members.

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

CLICK - BİA Media Monitoring Database

CLICK - BİA Media Monitoring Reports

CLICK - BİA Media Monitoring 2022 Annual Report: Journalists Shackled Ahead of Elections

(TY/VK)