Journalists in State of Emergency – 58

 
Two socialist leaning media outlets were shut down under a new Cabinet decree issued on April 29.
 
The İpekyolu newspaper based in Van province and the Yürüyüş magazine were shut down under State of Emergency Decree no: 689. Eighteen foundations, 14 associations and 13 health centers were shut down under the same decree, while dozens of academics and bureaucrats were expelled from various public agencies.
 
The decree also banned Turkey’s reality dating shows, which had been the staple of Turkish day-time TV since the early 2000’s.
 
Court cases against journalists
 
The second hearing of a trial in which 29 people, mostly journalists, face up to 15 years in jail on charges of “terrorist group membership” was held on April 27, Thursday at Istanbul’s Çağlayan Courthouse.
 
All three judges of the Istanbul 25th High Criminal Court and the prosecutor of the case were suspended after the court decided to release 21 of the 26 suspects under detention at the end of the first hearing held on March 27-31. All of the 21 suspects were rearrested before they left the prison compound late at night on March 31, as 12 suspects whose release was sought by the prosecutor were arrested as part of a new investigation – this time on coup charges – and eight others were detained upon a successful appeal from the prosecutor against their release.
 
Only witnesses and a very small number of journalists were allowed into the courtroom, while families, other members of the media and observers were not let in.
 
The new judges of the case decided at the end of Thursday’s hearing that all of the suspects who are under detention will remain so. The court also agreed to request a medical examination of detained suspect Davut Aydın, who suffers from scoliosis, to decide whether he should be released on health grounds.
 
The next hearing of the case will be held on July 6.
 
Suspects in the case include former columnists and journalists of several media outlets such as shuttered Zaman, Bugün and Meydan newspapers, Habertürk TV and Rota Haber website. The diverse group includes journalist and columnist Murat Aksoy, ex-singer and columnist for Meydan Atilla Taş, Türk Solu journal columnist Gökçe Fırat Çulhaoğlu and former Zaman court reporter Hanım Büşra Erdal. 
 
P24 updates list of imprisoned journalists
 
With the addition of more people, mostly former employees of the state-owned Turkish Radio and Television Network (TRT) — whose status was previously unknown to P24, the full number of journalists in prison has risen to 163.
 
The names of those recently added are Abdulvahap İş (Freelance journalist), Ali Ahmet Böken (TRT News coordinator), Ali Yüce (TRT Radio broadcasts chief),  Beytullah Özdemir (Zaman Düzce bureau chief),  Erol Yüksel (TRT News Department vice president), Fatma Ölmez (Radyo Ses employees) Hamza Günerigök (TRT anchor), Murat Dağdeviren (Demokrat Gebze owner), Nizamettin İzgi (Batman Newspaper’s owner) and Özcan Keser (TRT reporter). The full list of journalists in prison can be viewed here.
 
DİHA journalist appears before court
 
Sebahattin Koyuncu, a reporter for the shuttered Dicle News Agency (DİHA) attended the first session of his trial being heard by the Şırnak High Criminal Court via video-confeerncing. The trial was adjourned until Oct. 3. Earlier, Koyuncu spent four months under arrest. He is accused of “membership in an armed terrorist organization.”
 
Zaman indictment accepted
 
On April 26, the 25th High Criminal Court accepted an indictment against 30 people, including former columnists and executives of Zaman newspaper that was closed down by an emergency decree in last July.
 
According to a court document dated April 24 and reviewed by P24, 21 of the 30 suspects who are currently held in pre-trial detention will remain behind bars. They include former well-known columnists of Zaman such as Şahin Alpay, Mümtazer Türköne and Ahmet Turan Alkan. The court also said the first hearing of the trial will be held on September 18-19 at a courthouse within the Silivri prison compund.
 
The indictment, prepared by prosecutor İsmet Bozkurt, seeks three aggravated life sentences on charges stemming from the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016 and an additional prison term of 15 years for “terrorist group membership” for each suspect.
 
 
Sendika.org editor released
 
Ali Ergin Demirhan, an editor of the sendika.org news website who was detained following an early morning police raid of the website’s headquarters on April 20, was released on April 25.
 
Demirhan was released together with eight other people after their statements were taken by police officials and without appearing before a prosecutor. Demirhan was detained for “inciting the public to hatred and enmity by attempting to presenting the result of April 16 referendum as illegitimate.”
 
Italian journalist deported
 
On April 24, authorities confirmed that Italian journalist Gabriele Del Grande, who had been detained in the southern province of Hatay on April 9, had been deported.
 
“I spoke to him just now and he’s on his way back to Italy. I had the great joy of telling his family. We are waiting for him,” Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said.
 
Del Grande, who was being held in a repatriation center in the western province of Muğla, began a hunger strike on April 18 complaining he had no access to a lawyer and had been “interrogated” on the content of his research.
 
Documentary director arrested 
 
Kazım Kızıl, a documentary director and a Kamera Sokak reporter, was placed in pre-trial detention on April 22, after he was arrested along with 20 other people during a demonstration protesting alleged irregularities in the April 16 referendum in the western province of İzmir. Kızıl was detained for “insulting the president.” Another journalist arrested along with Kızıl, Anıl Deveci, was released on judicial control.
 
 
Journalists currently under arrest awaiting trial or serving a conviction
 

 
Sevan Nişanyan Still in prison (Not included in total count due to the nature of the charges against him).
 
List of media outlets shut down under State of Emergency decrees
TV Stations: Barış TV, Bugün TV, Can Erzincan TV, Dünya TV, Hira TV, Irmak TV, Kanal 124, Kanaltürk, MC TV, Mehtap TV, Merkür TV, Samanyolu Haber, Samanyolu TV, SRT TV, Tuna Shopping TV, Yumurcak TV, İMC TV, Hayat TV, Özgür Gün TV, Van TV, Van Genç TV, TV 10, Jiyan TV, Azadi TV, Denge TV, Mezopotamya TV , Birlik Medya TV, Yol Tv.
News Agencies: Cihan Haber Ajansı, Muhabir Haber Ajansı, SEM Haber Ajansı, JIN, DİHA
Newspapers: Adana Haber, Adana Medya, Akdeniz Türk, Şuhut’un Sesi, Kurtuluş, Lider, İscehisar, Durum, Türkeli, Antalya, Yerel Bakış, Nazar, Batman, Batman Postası, Batman Doğuş, Bingöl Olay, İrade, İskenderun Olay, Ekonomi, Ege’de Son Söz, Demokrat Gebze, Kocaeli Manşet, Bizim Kocaeli, Haber Kütahya, Gediz, Zafer, Hisar, Turgutlu Havadis, Milas Feza, Türkiye’de Yeni Yıldız, Hakikat, Urfa Haber Ajansı, Ajans 11, Yeni Emek, Banaz Postası, Son Nokta, Merkür Haber, Millet, Bugün, Meydan, Özgür Düşünce, Taraf, Yarına Bakış, Yeni Hayat, Zaman, Today’s Zaman, Özgür Gündem, Azadiya Welat, Batman Çağdaş, CizrePostası, Güney Express,İdil Haber,Kızıltepe’nin Sesi, Prestij Haber Gazetesi, Urfanatik Gazetesi, Yüksekova Haber.Express Gazetesi (Adana), Türkiye Manşet (Çorum), Dağyeli Gazetesi (Hatay), Akis Gazetesi (Kütahya), İpekyolu Gazetesi (Ordu), Son Dakika Gazetesi (İzmir), Yedigün Gazetesi (Ankara), Haberexen Dergisi(Samsun), Van İpekyolu .
Magazines: Akademik Araştırmalar, Aksiyon, Asya Pasifik, Bisiklet Çocuk, Diyalog, Avrasya, Ekolife, Ekoloji, Fountain, Gonca, Gül Yaprağı, Nokta, Sızıntı, Yağmur, Yeni Ümit, Zirve, Evrensel Kültür Dergisi, Özgürlük Dünyası, Tiroj, Yürüyüş.
Radio stations: Aksaray Mavi, Aktüel, Berfin, Burç, Cihan, Dünya, Esra, Haber Radyo Ege, Herkül, Jest, Kanaltürk, Radyo 59, Radyo Aile Rehberi, Radyo Bamteli, Radyo Cihan, Radyo Fıkıh, Radyo Küre, Radyo Mehtap, Radyo Nur, Radyo Şemşik, Samanyolu Haber, Umut, Yağmur, Rengin Radyo, Özgür Radyo, Ses Radyo, Radyo Karacadağ, Özgür Güneş, Patnos FM, Dünya Radyo, Batman FM.
Publishing houses: Altınburç, Burak Basın Yayın Dağıtım, Define, Dolunay Eğitim Yayın Dağıtım, Giresun Basın Yayın Dağıtım, Gonca, Gülyurdu, GYV, Işık Akademi, Işık Özel Eğitim, İklim Basın Yayın Pazarlama, Kaydırak, Kaynak, Kervan Basın Yayıncılık, Kuşak, Muştu, Nil, Rehber, Sürat Basım Yayın Reklamcılık Eğitim Araçları, Sütun, Şahdamar, Ufuk Basın Yayın Haber Ajans Pazarlama, Ufuk, Waşanxaneya Nil, Yay Basın Dağıtım, Yeni Akademi, Yitik Hazine, Zambak Basın Yayın Eğitim Turizm.
Outlets allowed to resume broadcasts after being shut down under SoE: Zarok TV (must comply with new requirement of 40 percent of broadcasts in Turkish), Yön Radyo.
 
* Glossary of legal terms used in this text
Detain / Place in custody: To hold in police custody for police interrogation first, and later for testimony to a prosecutor. Might lead to a court appearance depending on the action taken by the prosecutor.
Arrest: To put into prison indefinitely – by court order – pending trial.
Released on probation: Released with an international flight ban issued. Usually entails checking in regularly with a designated police station.
These lists have been compiled by P24 editors from open news sources and will be updated regularly. Journalists who want to report developments about themselves or their colleagues can contact us at punto24info@gmail.com