Journalists in State of Emergency – 145

 
Berzan Güneş, a reporter for the Mezopotamya news agency (MA), was jailed on June 11 by a court in Şırnak on the charge of “conducting propaganda for a terrorist organization” via his social media posts.
 
Police arrested Güneş during a security check on grounds of an ongoing investigation into the journalist launched by the Iğdır Public Prosecutor’s Office. He gave his defense statement to the Iğdır Criminal Judgeship of Peace through the courtroom video-conferencing system SEGBİS. Afterwards, the judgeship ruled to jail the journalist. This was the second time Güneş had given his statement as part of the same investigation, MA reported.
 
The judgeship sent Güneş to the Şırnak T Type Prison. Güneş’s camera was also seized.
 
 
Custody period for Öztürk extended for another week
 
The custody period for journalist Ece Sevim Öztürk was extended by a week. Öztürk, the chief editor for the news portal Çağdaş Ses, has been in custody since June 8, when she was arrested during an early morning police raid on her home. Öztürk was detained as part of an investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on grounds that she “shared posts on social media in support of FETÖ in the aftermath of the July 15 coup attempt.”
 
 
7 journalists indicted for posting news story on social media
 
Former Dicle news agency (DİHA) news manager Ömer Çelik, reporters Çağdaş Kaplan, Hamza Gündüz, Selman Çiçek, freelance journalist A. Vahap Taş, former Özgür Gündem responsible managing editor İnan Kızılkaya and the newspaper’s publisher Kemal Sancılı are facing charges in a newly issued indictment for sharing a 2016 news story on social media.
 
The indictment, issued by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and accepted by the 9th High Criminal Court of Diyarbakır, seeks up to 3 years of imprisonment for each of the seven journalists on the charge of “targeting state officials assigned in the fight against terrorism.” The indictment also seeks an additional prison term between 1 to 5 years for Selman Çiçek on the charge of “conducting propaganda for a terrorist organization” via social media.
 
 
“Paradise Papers” trial against Evrensel journalist adjourned
 
Journalist Çağrı Sarı, the former responsible managing editor of Evrensel daily, appeared before an Istanbul court on June 13 for the second hearing of a trial in which she is accused of “insult” and “libel” on account of two “Paradise Papers” reports the newspaper published in November 2017.
 
Sarı faces up to six years in prison in the case, opened upon a complaint by Energy Minister Berat Albayrak and his brother Serhat Albayrak. Serhat Albayrak’s name was mentioned in “Paradise Papers,” a set of 13.4 million leaked confidential electronic documents relating to offshore investments by more than 120 politicians, among other high profile names, from 50 countries.
 
Sarı and Evrensel lawyer Devrim Avcı were present at Wednesday’s hearing at the Bakırköy 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. P24 monitored the hearing.
 
Addressing the court, Sarı said that the name of a minister to be cited in the documents had news value, adding that the newspaper has also published the minister’s response to the allegations.
 
Sarı also said that the indictment accused her of “manipulating opinion” because the articles were published over two days. “In journalism, this is called a follow-up, it’s not manipulating opinion,” Sarı explained. She said the news stories that form the basis of the allegations were part of freedom of the press and freedom of expression, and requested to be acquitted.
 
Her lawyer Devrim Avcı also said the case was against the right to information. Avcı requested that politicians Aykut Erdoğdu and Filiz Kerestecioğlu testify before the court as witnesses, which the court rejected.
 
The court adjourned the trial until September 25, 2018.
 
 
Alçı, Kütahyalı and Zileli given 105-day prison sentence each
 
A Turkish court sentenced HaberTürk columnist Nagehan Alçı, former Sabah columnist Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, and Korkusuz columnist Ümit Zileli to 105-day prison sentences each for their commentary on separate television programs. Alçı wrote about the ruling in her June 13 column in HaberTürk.
 
The remarks for which the 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance of İzmir found the three columnists guilty were about torture in Diyarbakır Prison during the period between 1980 and 1984 under the administration of Esat Oktay Yıldıran, a military officer appointed to the prison by the Sept. 12, 1980, junta.
 
 
Anadolu Agency files compensation case against Enver Aysever
 
The state-run Anadolu News Agency (AA) filed a lawsuit against journalist Enver Aysever, seeking non-pecuniary damages for Aysever’s comments about the agency on a television program. The agency is seeking TL 5,000 in non-pecuniary damages on grounds that Aysever “violated personal rights of the agency,” according to the indictment Aysever shared on his social media account on June 11.
 
List of journalists and media workers in prison
 
The jailing of Mezopotamya Agency reporter Berzan Güneş brought the number of journalists and media workers in prison in Turkey to at least 180. For a detailed list, click here.
 
1                Abdulkadir Turay, DİHA reporter
2                Abdullah Kaya, DİHA
3                Abdullah Kılıç, Habertürk
4                Abdullah Özyurt, Zaman reporter
5                Abdulvahap İş, freelance journalist
6                Adil Demirci, ETHA reporter
7                Ahmet Altan
8                Ahmet Feyzullah Özyurt
9                Ahmet Memiş, Haberdar news website
10              Ahmet Metin Sekizkardeş, Zaman
11              Ahmet Turan Alkan, Zaman
12              Ahmet Yavaş, TRT (Erzurum)
13              Ali Ahmet Böken, TRT News coordinator
14              Ali Akkuş, Zaman
15              Ali Aşikar, Azadiya Welat
16              Ali Babür Boysal, Zaman page designer
17              Ali Sönmez Kayar, ETHA reporter
18              Ali Ünal, Zaman columnist
19              Ali Yüce, TRT Radio broadcasts chief
20              Arafat Dayan, Demokratik Ulus
21              Aslı Ceren Aslan, Özgür Gelecek
22              Ayşe Nazlı Ilıcak
23              Ayşenur Parıldak, Zaman, Haberdar
24              Aytekin Gezici, journalist/writer
25              Aziz İstegün, Diyarbakır Zaman representative
26              Barış Ceyhan, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi employee
27              Bayram Kaya, Zaman reporter
28              Behram Kılıç
29              Berzan Güneş, Mezopotamya Agency reporter
30              Beytullah Özdemir, Zaman Düzce bureau chief
31              Burçin Dokgöz, former Zaman and Çorum reporter
32              Cemal Azmi Kalyoncu, Journalists and Writers’ Foundation
33              Cemal Tunç, Gün Matbaacılık employee
34              Ceren Taşkın, Hatay'ın Sesi
35              Cuma Ulus, Millet newspaper’s publications coordinator
36              Cumali Çaygeç, TRT Şeş news director
37              Cumali Öz, Gün Matbaacılık employee
38              Cüneyt Seza Özkan, Samanyolu TV
39              Çetin Kurşun, Azadiya Welat
40              Doğan Baran, Odak magazine owner, managing editor
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              Erdoğan Zamur, Gün Matbaacılık employee
47              Erol Yüksel, TRT News Department vice president
48              Erol Zavar, Odak magazine owner and newsroom director
49              Fahrettin Kılıç, Özgür Toplum
50              Faruk Akkan, Cihan news agency
51              Ferhat Çiftçi, Azadiya Welat Gaziantep bureau chief
52              Ferhat Parlak, Silvan Mücadele newspaper owner
53              Fevzi Yazıcı, Zaman chief designer
54              Gökçe Fırat Çulhaoğlu, Türksolu columnist
55              Gökhan Öner, former Dihaber reporter
56              Gurbet Çakar, Hevi women’s magazine
57              Gültekin Avcı
58              Habip Güler, Zaman reporter
59              Hakan Aksel, TRT producer-director
60              Hakan Ergün, Azadiya Welat and Özgür Gündem distributor
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 Bzokurt, Bugün reporter
67              Hasan Duman, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi distributor
68              Hatice Duman, Atılım newspaper owner and managing editor
69              Havva Cuştan, ETHA reporter
70              Haydar Ergül, Demokratik Modernite editor
71              Hicran Ürün, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi editor
72              Hidayet Karaca, Samanyolu Media Group president
73              Hüseyin Aydın, Cihan reporter
74              İbrahim Kareyeğen, responsible editor for Zaman
75              İdris Okur, Cihan New Agency Çorum reporter
76              İdris Sayılgan, DİHA
77              İdris Yılmaz
78              İhsan Sinmiş, Gün Matbaacılık employee
79              İhsan Yaşar, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi owner
80              İrfan Karaca, Gün Matbaacılık employee
81              İshak Yasul, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi responsible managing editor
82              İsmail Çoban, former Azadiya Welat managing editor
83              İsmail Ersan, Anatolia news agency
84              İsminaz Temel, ETHA editor
85              Kamuran Sunbat, former DİHA Çukurova reporter
86              Kasım Zengin, owner of Gün Matbaacılık
87              Kazım Canlan, Cihan news agency Ankara news director
88              Kazım Göçer, Gün Matbaacılık employee
89              Kemal Daşdöğen, Gün Matbaacılık employee
90              Kemal Demir, TV 10
91              Kemal Özer, Evrensel
92              Kemal Sancılı, Özgür Gündem copyrights holder
93              Kenan Karavil, Radyo Dünya editor-in-chief
94              Kubilay Çelik, Antropolog magazine responsible managing editor
95              Mahmut Abay, Gün Matbaacılık employee
96              Mehmet Ali Ay
97              Mehmet Ali Çelebi, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi editor
98              Mehmet Altan
99              Mehmet Baransu, Taraf columnist/reporter
100            Mehmet Dursun
101            Mehmet Emin Sümeli, Gün Matbaacılık employee
102            Mehmet Güleş, DİHA
103            Mehmet Gündem
104            Mehmet Kadir Özkara, Gün Matbaacılık employee
105            Mehmet Kuru, Zaman Eskişehir reporter
106            Mehmet Sıddık damar, DİHA
107            Meltem Oktay, DİHA reporter
108            Metin Arslan, Bugün reporter
109            Mikail Barut, Özgür Halk former editor
110            Miktat Algül, Mezitli FM broadcast coordinator
111            Mizgin Çay, Radyo Karacadağ
112            Muhammed Sait Kuloğlu, owner of Subuhaber.com
113            Muhammet Özkan, Gün Matbaacılık employee
114            Muhsin Pilgir, Zaman and Cihan news agency
115            Murat Çapan, Nokta
116            Murat Dağdeviren, Demokrat Gebze owner
117            Musa Kaya, Gün Matbaacılık employee
118            Mustafa Erkan Acar, Bugün news editor
119            Mustafa Gök, Ankara bureau chief for Ekmek ve Adalet magazine
120            Mustafa Göktaş, Özgür Gündem Şanlıurfa reporter
121            Mustafa Ünal, Zaman
122            Mutlu Çölgeçen, Millet, newsroom coordinator
123            Mutlu Özay, Cihan reporter
124            Mümtazer Türköne, Zaman columnist
125            Mürsel Demir, Gün Matbaacılık employee
126            Nadir Yücel, Çorum Yıldız local newspaper editor-in-chief
127            Necat Hizarcı, Gün Matbaacılık employee
128            Nedim Türfent, DİHA
129            Nizamettin İzgi, Batman newspaper owner
130            Nuh Gönültaş, Bugün columnist
131            Nuri Durna, TRT
132            Nuri Yeşil, Azadiya Welat Dersim bureau chief
133            Nurullah Kaya, Gaziantep Zaman representative
134            Oğuz Usluer, Habertürk former broadcasts coordinator
135            Osman Yakut, Zaman Antalya
136            Ömer Oruç, Cihan newspaper
137            Özcan Keser, TRT reporter
138            Özgür Bozkurt, Gün Matbaacılık employee
139            Pınar Gayıp, ETHA reporter
140            Pınar Tarlak, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi employee
141            Polat Arslan, Gün Matbaacılık employee
142            Reyhan Çapan, Özgür Gündem managing editor
143            Reyhan Hacıoğlu, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi editor
144            Sadettin Demirtaş, Gün Matbaacılık employee
145            Sadık Demir, Radyo Karacadağ
146            Sait Gürkan Tuzlu, Cihan reporter
147            Salih Erbekler, Radyo Karacadağ
148            Sami Tunca, Mücadele Birliği magazine managing editor
149            Seda Taşkın, Mezopotamya News Agency reporter
150            Semiha Mete, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi reporter/distributor
151            Semiha Şahin, ETHA editor
152            Serhat Şeftali, Zaman regional bureau chief for the Med region
153            Serkan Aydemir, Bitlis Aktüel reporter
154            Serpil Ünal, Mücadele Birliği reporter
155            Sertan Önal, Halkın Günlüğü reporter
156            Seyid Kılıç, TRT News
157            Seyithan Akyüz, Azadiya Welat Adana bureau chief
158            Sezai Yavaş, TRT Diyarbakır deputy regional director
159            Songül Yücel, Önsöz editor in chief
160            Süleyman Acar, Mücadele Birliği editor in chief
161            Süleyman Güneş, Gün Matbaacılık employee
162            Şahabettin Demir, DİHA reporter
163            Şeref Yılmaz, Irmak TV
164            Şerife Oruç, DİHA reporter
165            Togay Okay, Özgür Gelecek
166            Turgut Usul, TRT reporter
167            Ufuk Şanlı, former Vatan columnist
168            Uğur Selman Kelekçiler, Gün Matbaacılık employee
169            Ünal Tanık, Rota Haber editor-in-chief
170            Vahit Yazgan, İzmir Zaman bureau chief
171            Veli Büyükşahin, TV10 executive
172            Veli Haydar Güleç, TV10 executive
173            Yakup Çetin, Zaman reporter
174            Yakup Şimşek, Zaman, marketing director
175            Yalçın Güler, TRT (Erzurum)
176            Yener Dönmez, Habervaktim news website
177            Yetkin Yıldız, Aktif Haber website editor
178            Yılmaz Kahraman, Özgür Halk editor
179            Zehra Doğan, Jinha
180            Ziya Ataman, DİHA reporter