Journalists in State of Emergency – 60

 
On May 5, a court ruled to arrest Etkin News Agency (ETHA) translator Meşale Tolu Kartal and ETHA reporter Ömer Ulaş Sezgin.
 
The two were detained on April 30 in police operations ahead of planned May Day protests.
Their reason for arrest was not immediately clear. The total number of journalists or press workers in Turkish prisons serving a conviction or awaiting trial under arrest has reached 165. The full list can be viewed here.
 
Cumhuriyet reporter handed down prison sentence
Canan Coşkun, a Cumhuriyet reporter was given a 10 month prison sentence in connection with a news report about a court case in Şanlıurfa, where nine suspects are accused of supplying weapons to the Islamic State in Syria.  One of the suspects in the case had accused another one of having links to the Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MİT). For this story, Coşkun was tried on charges of “insulting the agencies of the Republic of Turkey.”
The verdict trial was heard on May 9 by the İstanbul 2nd Court of First Instance. The court has suspended the prison term, which means Coşkun will not be physically imprisoned.
 
Sendika.org editor given one year and three months suspended sentence
On May 6, Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court handed down a prison sentence of one year and three months to Ali Ergin Demirhan, an editor with the critical Sendika.org news website, on charges of “spreading propaganda on behalf of a terrorist organization.” The court also ruled to suspend Demirhan’s sentence.
The court’s ruling was based on a news report published in December 2015 in Halkın Sesi, a publication owned by Demirhan, which covered the alleged human rights abuses committed against civilians by Turkish security forces in Diyarbakır’s Sur and Cizre’s Şırnak districts.
 
Prosecutor seeks up to 13 years in Özgür Gündem trial
 
On May 9, a prosecutor demanded a total of 46 years in prison for five journalists who supported the shuttered Özgür Gündem daily by standing in as an editor-in-chief for one day, a symbolic act of solidarity.
 
Ayşe Düzkan, Hüseyin Aykol, Mehmet Ali Çelebi, Hüseyin Bektaş and Ragıp Duran appeared before the İstanbul 13th High Criminal Court on May 10.
 
The prosecution seeks three years for Aykol, the co-editor-in-chief of Özgür Gündem, for three years for defaming those who are part of counterterrorism efforts and additional 13 years for “spreading propaganda for a terror organization.” The prosecutor demanded seven and a half years for the remaining journalists. The trial was adjourned until June 21.
 
 
Fourth hearing in “Taraf” case
 
The fourth hearing of a court case against former journalists of the shuttered Taraf daily, launched in relation to the publication of military documents several years ago, was held on May 10 at the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court.
 
The documents in question, titled the Egemen Operation Plan — although more commonly known by the public to be concerning documents about the Balyoz (Sledgehammer) coup plan, concern outdated war plans against Greece.
 
The court rejected a request from the lawyer of former Taraf reporter Mehmet Baransu, who was imprisoned pending trial at the start of investigation in March 2015, for his release. It also rejected a request from some 31 people, including defendants in the Balyoz trial, to be co-plaintiffs in the case against former Taraf journalists.
 
The court also agreed to ask the administration of Silivri Prison, where Baransu is held, to provide space and sufficient time for Baransu to prepare his defense.
 
The next hearing in the case will be held on September 13, 2017.
 
Journalists and former Taraf executives Ahmet Altan, Yasemin Çongar, and Yıldıray Oğur face a possible jail term of 52 years and six months on charges of “destroying documents pertaining to the security of state, using them beyond their purpose, stealing them by deception, acquiring documents relating to the security of the state and exposing documents that is to be kept confidential for reasons relating to the security and political interests of the state.” Baransu and Tuncay Opçin, another defendant in the same case who remains at large, face the additional charges of “leading a terrorist organization” and a possible imprisonment of up to 75 years.
 
Armed attack on local newspaper
On May 6, unknown assailants fired shots at the office of Yeni Marmara, a local Bursa newspaper. The attack took place at 9:25 pm. The assailant fired several shots towards the office door and fled. Police are investigating the incident.
 
MİT trucks trial
On May 8, the İstanbul 14th High Criminal Court heard the scheduled session in the trial against former Cumhuriyet Editor-in-Chief Can Dündar, the newspaper’s Ankara Bureau Chief Erdem Gül and Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Enis Berberoğlu where the suspects stand accused of “aiding a terrorist organization without being a member of it” in relation with a news story that suggested that the Turkish intelligence agency MİT shipped weapons to jihadi groups in Syria.
The court heard arguments from the lawyer of Berberoğlu. The trial was adjourned until May 24.
 
French journalist detained in Batman
A French journalist was detained in Batman province on May 7. Mathias Depardon, a French photographer and documentary maker, was detained by authorities while working on a project regarding the ill-fated Hasankeyf ruins.
 
İHD free speech awards
On May 9, the Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul branch announced the recipients of its freedom of speech awards given annually in honor of the late publisher and human rights activist Ayşe Nur Zarakolu. Eight awards were given this year to imprisoned journalists Kadri Gürsel, İnan Kızılkaya, Ahmet Altan, and Mehmet Altan, the imprisoned head of İHD’s Mersin branch Ali Tanrıverdi and imprisoned Democratic Party of the Peoples (HDP) co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ, the slain journalist Nujiyan Erhan, the Belge Publishing House and the Confederation of Public Workers’ Union (KESK) on behalf of civil servants expelled from their jobs under State of Emergency decrees.
 
1          Abdulkadir Turay, DİHA reporter
2          Abdullah Kaya, DİHA
3          Abdullah Kılıç, Habertürk
4          Abdullah Özyurt, Zaman reporter
5          Abdulvahap İş (Freelance journalist)
6          Abdürrahim Ersöz, Antalya
7          Ahmet Altan
8          Ahmet Memiş, Gazeteci, Haberdar news website
9          Ahmet Metin Sekizkardeş, Zaman journalist
10        Ahmet Şık, Cumhuriyet reporter
11        Ahmet Turan Alkan, Zaman
12        Ahmet Yavaş, TRT (Erzurum)
13        Akın Atalay, Pres. of Cumhuriyet Foundation Executive Board
14        Alaattin Güner, Cihan media director
15        Ali Ahmet Böken, TRT News coordinator
16        Ali Aşikar – Azadiya Welat
17        Ali Babür Boysal, Zaman page designer
18        Ali Bulaç, Eski Zaman columnist
19        Ali Konar, Azadiya Welat bureau chief
20        Ali Ünal, Zaman columnist
21        Ali Yüce, TRT Radio broadcasts chief
22        Arafat Dayan, Demokratik Ulus
23        Aslı Ceren Aslan, Özgür Gelecek
24        Atilla Taş, Meydan columnist
25        Ayhan Demir, Çaldıran News Agency
26        Ayşe Nazlı Ilıcak
27        Ayşenur Parıldak, Zaman, Haberdar
28        Aytekin Gezici, journalist/writer
29        Aziz İstegün, Diyarbakır Zaman representative
30        Bayram Kaya, Zaman reporter
31        Beytullah Özdemir, Zaman Düzce bureau chief
32        Bülent Utku, Cumhuriyet Foundation board member
33        Bünyamin Köseli, Aksiyon magazine reporter
34        Cebrail Parıltı, Anadolu Ajansı (AA) Derik reporter
35        Cemal Azmi Kalyoncu, Journalists and Writers’ Foundation
36        Ceren Taşkın, Hatay'ın Sesi
37        Cihan Acar, Bugün reporter
38        Cuma Kaya, Zaman
39        Cuma Ulus, Millet newspaper’s publications coordinator
40        Deniz Yücel, Die Welt
41        Emin Demir, Freelancer
42        Emre Soncan, Zaman defense reporter
43        Ercan Gün, Fox TV
44        Erdal Süsem, Eylül magazine editor
45        Erdal Şen, former Meydan managing editor
46        Erol Yüksel (TRT News Department vice president))
47        Erol Zavar, Odak magazine, owner and newsroom director
48        Fahrettin Kılıç, Özgür Toplum
49        Faruk Akkan, Cihan news agency
50        Fatma Ölmez (Radyo Ses employees)
51        Ferhat Çiftçi, Azadiya Welat Gaziantep bureau chief
52        Fevzi Yazıcı
53        Gökçe Fırat Çulhaoğlu, Türksolu columnist
54        Gurbet Çakar, Hevi women’s magazine
55        Gültekin Avcı
56        Güray Tekin Öz, columnist
57        Habip Güler, Zaman reporter
58        Hakan Aksel, TRT producer-director
59        Hakan Ergün, Azadiya Welat and Özgür Gündem distributor
60        Hakan Karasinir, columnist
61        Hakan Taşdelen
62        Halil İbrahim Mert, TRT (Erzurum)
63        Hamit Dilbahar, Azadiya Welat columnist
64        Hamza Günerigök, TRT
65        Hanım Büşra Erdal, Zaman reporter and columnist
66        Hasan Duman, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi distributor
67        Haşim Söylemez, Aksiyon columnist
68        Hatice Duman, Atılım newspaper’s owner and managing editor
69        Hayati Yıldız, Azadiya Welat
70        Hidayet Karaca, Samanyolu Media Group President
71        Hülya Karakaya, Özgür Halk Managing Editor
72        Hüseyin Aydın, Cihan reporter
73        Hüseyin Turan, Zaman columnist
74        İbrahim Balta, Zaman business editor
75        İbrahim Kareyeğen, responsible editor for Zaman
76        İdris Sayılgan, DİHA
77        İlker İlkan, Azadiya Welat
78        İnan Kızılkaya, Özgür Gündem Newsroom Editor
79        İsa Siyi, Haberdar
80        İsmail Avcı, Zaman
81        İsmail Efe, local press advisor in İzmir
82        Kadri Gürsel, Editorial Advisor
83        Kamuran Sunbat, DİHA Çukurova reporter (formerly)
84        Kazım Kızıl, Kamera Sokak
85        Kemal Sancılı, Özgür Gündem copyrights holder
86        Kenan Karavil, Radyo Dünya editor-in-chief
87        Lokman Erdoğan, Çorum Manşet, owner
88        Mahir Kanaat, BirGün, head of accountingn
89        Mazlum Dolan,DİHA reporter
90        Mehmet Altan
91        Mehmet Baransu, Taraf columnist/reporter
92        Mehmet Dener, Şanlıurfa.com editor-in-chief
93        Mehmet Güleş, DİHA
94        Mehmet Kuru, Zaman Eskişehir reporter
95        Mehmet Özdemir, Zaman columnist
96        Meltem Oktay, DİHA reporter
97        Meşale Tolu, ETHA translator
98        Mikail Barut, Özgür Halk former editor
99        Miktat Algül, Mezitli FM General Publications Coordinator
100      Mizgin Çay – Radyo Karacadağ
101      Muhammet Taşçılar, Şanlıurfa.com editor-in-chief
102      Murat Aksoy,former Yeni Şafak columnist
103      Murat Avcıoğlu, Zaman
104      Murat Dağdeviren (Demokrat Gebze owner)
105      Murat Öztürk, Çorum Manşet editor
106      Murat Sabuncu, Editor-in- Chief
107      Musa Kart, Cartoonist
108      Mustafa Erkan Acar, Bugün news editor,
109      Mustafa Gök, Ankara bureau chief for Ekmek ve Adalet magazine
110      Mustafa Kemal Güngör, Cumhuriyet Foundation board member
111      Mustafa Ünal, Zaman
112      Mutlu Çölgeçen, Millet, newsroom coordinator
113      Mümtazer Türköne, Zaman columnist
114      Nedim Türfent,DİHA
115      Nizamettin İzgi (Batman Newspaper’s owner)
116      Nur Ener, Yeni Asya
117      Nuri Durna, TRT
118      Nuri Yeşil, Azadiya Welat Dersim bureau chief
119      Nurullah Kaya, G.antep Zaman representative
120      Oğuz Usluer, Habertürk former broadcasts coordinator
121      Olgun Matur, Antalya local journalist
122      Osman Yakut, Zaman Antalya
123      Ozan Kaplanoğlu, Bursa Muhalif
124      Ömer Çelik, DİHA news manager
125      Ömer Oruç, Cihan newspaper
126      Ömer Özdemir, Antalya eski Zaman muhabiri
127      Önder Çelik, Cumhuriyet Foundation board member
128      Özcan Keser (TRT reporter)
129      Özgür Amed (Ethem Çağır), Özgür Gündem writer
130      Özkan Mayda, Antalya reporter with Zaman
131      Rabia Özkaya, Özgür Halk
132      Ramazan Alkan, Yeni Akit reporter
133      Resul Cengiz, Denizli reporter with Zaman
134      Sadık Demir – Radyo Karacadağ
135      Salih Erbekler – Radyo Karacadağ
136      Sami Tunca, Mücadele Birliği magazine Managing Editor
137      Selman Keleş, DİHA
138      Serhat Şeftali, Zaman regional bureau chief for the Med region
139      Serkan Aydemir, Bitlis Aktüel reporter
140      Seyid Kılıç, TRT News
141      Seyithan Akyüz, Azadiya Welat Adana bureau chief
142      Şahabettin Demir, DİHA reporter
143      Şahin Alpay, Zaman columnist
144      Şeref Yılmaz, Irmak TV
145      Şerife Oruç, DİHA reporter
146      Şirin Çoban, Azadiya Welat
147      Tahsin Kürklü, Zaman – head of Logistics Department
148      Togay Okay, Özgür Gelecek
149      Tunca Öğreten, former Diken editor
150      Tuncer Çetinkaya, Zaman Antalya
151      Turhan Günay, Chief Editor of Cumhuriyet supplement
152      Ufuk Şanlı, former Vatan columnist
153      Ulaş Sezgin, ETHA reporter
154      Ünal Tanık, Rota Haber editor-in-chief
155      Vahit Yazgan, İzmir Zaman bureau chief
156      Vedat Beki, Sözcü 18
157      Vedat Demir, former Yarına Bakış writer
158      Yakup Çetin, Zaman reporter
159      Yakup Şimşek, Zaman, marketing director
160      Yalçın Güler, TRT (Erzurum)
161      Yener Dönmez, Habervaktim news website
162      Yetkin Yıldız, Aktif Haber website editor
163      Yılmaz Kahraman, Özgür Halk editor
164      Zafer Özsoy
165      Ziya Ataman, DİHA reporter