In Turkish metropolis of Istanbul, trial began against four employees of government-critical newspaper Sözcü. The owner of Barbara Akbay, online chef Mediha Olgun, Izmir correspondent Gökmen Ulu and CFO Yonca Kaleli are accused of supporting Gülen movement declared as a terrorist organization and to conduct propaganda for m.
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The Turkish Government makes Association of Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen responsible for coup attempt in July of last year. The judiciary had issued arrest warrants against Sözcü staff on May 19.
The newspaper is accused of having published name of hotel in seaside town of Marmaris before coup attempt, in which President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made his family vacation. Insurgent soldiers had tried to arrest president at his holiday resort during coup night.
The trial took place at Istanbul Justice Palace Cağlayan. The accused Izmir correspondent Ulu said everyone in Marmaris knew that Erdoğan was on vacation. In addition, a study by Parliament concluded that coup Erdoğan’s whereabouts had not been heard from press. Ulu said he had never violated universal journalistic principles in his work. He should be better accused of having been in direct opposition journalism. The accusation of belonging to Gülen movement is a gross slander.
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Sözcü-owner Akbay does not currently hold up in Turkey. He rejected accusations in a defensive script as a conspiracy to protect “real Gülenisten”. He was attacked because he founded a newspaper according to secular principles of state founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, wrote Akbay. He always criticized Gülen movement.
At least 162 journalists are detained in Turkey
Turkey is one of countries in world where most journalists are detained. There are currently 162 cases known. Many are in custody and await ir accusation. Some processes are already underway, as is currently case against journalists from Cumhuriyet and Zaman. German journalists also sit in Turkish prisons. Among m is Meşale Tolu from Ulm, who is accused of terror propaganda and membership in extreme left-wing MLKP. According to your lawyer, you are threatening 20 years in prison. Tolu denied accusations in her first statement in court on 11 October.
Anor prominent case is Deniz Yücel. The world correspondent was arrested in mid-February of this year and has been in custody ever since. In Turkey, this can take up to five years because of current state of emergency.
