Die Welt Journalist Deniz Yücel Arrested

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Die Welt Turkey Correspondent Deniz Yücel kept in custody for 13 days in İstanbul Security Department has been arrested yesterday (February 27) for "propagandizing for an [illegal] organization and inciting people to hatred and hostility.

Yücel was taken into custody on February 14 in İstanbul as he wanted to testify to the investigation units regarding an article he had written about RedHack hacking the personal e-mail account of Minister of Energy Berat Albayrak.

Tunca Öğreten, Ömer Çelik and Mahir Kanat are also arrested as a part of the same investigation.

Yücel questioned about his reports

Yücel was brought to İstanbul Justice Palace in Çağlayan on February 27 by İstanbul Organized Crimes Department units.
According to the report by BirGün daily, Yücel was questioned about his interview with Cemil Bayık, one of the founders of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and council member of Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) in 2015, reports about President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Yüksekova and Cizre.

During Yücel's testimony, his journalist colleagues and Republican People's Party (CHP) MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu also appeared at the courthouse.

Yücel was referred to court for arrest.

What had happened?

Diken news website editor Tunca Öğreten, DİHABER (Dicle News Agency) Diyarbakır Bureau Chief editor Ömer Çelik and correspondent Metin Yoksu, Yolculuk (Journey) newspaper Editor-in-Chief Eray Sargın, BirGün daily Executive Official Mahir Kanaat were taken into custody on December 24, 2016 in house raids.

Detention warrant was issued for Özgür Radio (Free Radio) Executive Coordinator and ETHA (Etkin News Agency) Executive Official Derya Okatan.

Of the above mentioned, Diken news site editor Öğreten, DİHA Diyarbakır News Director Çelik, BirGün daily executive Kanaat were arrested for "being a member of an [illegal] organization after 24 days in detention.

DİHA correspondent Metin Yoksu, Yolculuk newspaper Editor-in-Chief Sargın and ETHA executive Okatan were released.
According to pro-government Sabah daily reporting about the house raids, Deniz Yücel was abroad at the time of the house raids conducted as a part of an investigation into nine journalists.

We have compiled this report from Deutsche Welle, Hürriyet, BirGün dailies. (EA/ÇT/DG)