Detained During News Follow-up at Border, Journalist İdris Sayılğan Arrested

* Photo: Seda Taşkın / MLSA

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Detained in Pazarkule in Turkey's northwestern province of Edirne on February 29 while reporting on the situation of refugees heading towards the border with Greece, Mezopotamya Agency reporter İdris Sayılğan has been arrested. While the court has ruled for the release of Naci Kaya, he is still held in custody upon the instruction of Edirne Public Prosecutor.

Sayılğan and Kaya were referred from Edirne Central Gendarmerie Command to Edirne Courthouse as they had an international travel ban. The prosecutor demanded the arrest of both journalists, who made their defense via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS).

'I wasn't there to go abroad, but to make news'

While he was working for Dicle News Agency (DİHA), which was closed by a Statutory Decree, Sayılğan was arrested on October 17, 2016 and spent 3 years, 1 month behind bars. He was released on November 27, 2019.

Sentenced to 8 years, 3 months by the Muş Heavy Penal Court, İdris Sayılğan has stated the following to the 2nd Penal Chamber of the Erzurum Regional Court of Justice, which ruled for his release and sent his file to the Court of Cassation for approval:

"After I was released, I started working for Mezopotamya Agency a month ago. We did not shoot in a secluded place. I did not know that were filming in a military zone. They detained us while we were shooting with a camera. If we had known that it was a forbidden zone, we would have got a permit. But, the whole media were making interviews and live broadcasting there.

"We are journalists and we went there to make news. I was not there to go abroad, I was there to make news. I did not have such an intention. There are journalists detained there along with us, they have been released. Two journalists from Rudaw detained there were in the same situation with me, they have been released. I request my release for that reason."

It will be evaluated again if news are presented

The court has ruled for the arrest of Sayığan following the statements of defense. The court board indicated that they gave a ruling depending on the evidence that they had and would evaluate the situation if the news that he reported while he was in the region was submitted to court during the period of objection. Sayılğan has been sent to the Edirne Type F Closed Prison. (HA/SD)