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Since this is a freelance journalism blog on Turkey, I believe it is fitting to start with an article on the state of journalism in Turkey.
On the 1st of March, Egemen Bağış (Turkey’s Chief Nagotiator to the European Union and the Minister for EU Affairs) was Stephen Sackur’s guest on BBC Hardtalk. In response to Sackur’s statement that there was a vast numbers of journalists imprisoned in Turkey for voicing opposing views, Egemen Bağış was quick to remind that “there is no journalist detained for their profession. There are some people who carry journalist identification cards who have been caught raping another person or robing a bank.”
Thus, it would seem that Turkey’s bridge-man to Europe would have us believe that journalists in Turkey are detained and jailed for non-political crimes. A list of all detained journalists and what they have been detained for has been circulating which I have included below..
This list unfortunately shows that journalism itself has become a criminal offence. Almost all journalists inprisoned have been apprehended for being a member of an armed terror organization (PKK, KCK, Ergenekon, DHKP/C etc.). Some have just been apprehended… no indictment, no conviction, just incarcerated without any proof or involvement in any illegal activity. Their faults are either pursuing their occupations, namely investigative journalism, or being too vocal in their political thoughts against the will of those behind the wheel.
What is more frequently being referred to as a witch hunt has become an insufferable violation to the right to freedom of thought. The fact that none of the journalists within this list are partisan to AKP is telling:
Azadiya Welat Mersin province representative,
Convicted
Charged with: Being member of an armed terror organization (PKK).
Sentenced: 7 years 1 month prison on April 12, 2011. (Anti-Terror Law)
Mersin E Type Prison (since September 26, 2010)
Dicle News Agency, Kurtalan correspondent
Charged with: being member of an armed terrorist organization (KCK)
Diyarbakır D Type Prison (Since December 16, 2011)
Dicle News Agency, Correspondent in Adana
Charged with: Being member of an armed terrorist organization (PKK),
Batman M-Type Closed Prison (Since 19 April 2011)
Gün TV (Diyarbakır, local) Chief Coordinator
Charged with: Being member of an armed terrorist organization (KCK)
Diyarbakır D-Type Prison (since 14 April 2009)
5- Ahmet Şık,
Editor in Habervesaire.com, Lecturer in Bilgi University
Charged with: Being member of an armed terrorist organization (Ergenekon)
Silivri L-Type Prison Number 2 (since 6 March 2011)
6- Ali Buluş,
Dicle News Agency Mersin province correspondent
Charged with: Being member of an armed terrorist organization (PKK),
Sentence: 6 years and 3 months imprisonment (Turkish Penal Code Art.314/2)
Karaman-Ermenek M-Type Prison
7- Ali Konar,
Azadiya Welat Elazig Representative
Charged with: Being member of an armed terrorist organization (PKK),
Malatya E-Type Closed Prison (since 27 May 2010)
8- Aydın Yıldız,
Dicle News Agency, Mersin province correspondent
Charged with: Being member of an armed terrorist organization (KCK)
Gaziantep H Type Prison (since 01 October 2011)
9- Ayşe Oyman, (Woman)
Özgür Gündem daily Editor,
Charged with: Being member of an terrorist organization (KCK)
Bakırköy Women Prison (Since December 24, 2011)
10- Baha Okar,
Bilim ve Gelecek (Science and Future) periodical, editor
Charged with: Being member of an armed terrorist organization (Revolutionary Headquarter)
Tekirdağ F-Type Prison (Since 25 September 2010)
11- Bahar Kurt, (Woman)
Owner of Tavır magazine,
Charged with: Being member of an armed terrorist organization (DHKP/C)
Bakirkoy Women Prison (Since April 2011)
12- Barış Pehlivan,
Odatv news site, Editor in Chief
Charged with: Being member of an armed terrorist organization; defacing the documents related to security of the state, misusing these documents, swindling or stealing these documents (Ergenekon)
Silivri L-Type Prison (since February 18, 2011)
13- Barış Terkoğlu,
Odatv news site, News Manager
Charged with: Being member of an armed terrorist organization; defacing the documents related to security of the state, misusing these documents, swindling or stealing these documents (Ergenekon)
Silivri L-Type Prison (since February 18, 2011)
14- Bayram Namaz,
Atılım weekly newspaper columnist,
Charged with: Making propaganda of a terrorist organization; being member of an armed terrorist organization
Edirne F-Type Prison (since September 12, 2006)
15- Bayram Parlak,
Gündem daily, Mersin province Representative,
Charged with: Being member of anarmed terrorist organization (PKK)
Ermenek-Karaman M-Type Prison (Since July 6, 2007)
16- Bedri Adanır,
Aram Publication owner; Kurdish Hawar newspaper Managing Editor,
Charged with: Being member of an armed terrorist organization (PKK)
Diyarbakır D-Type Prison (Since January 08, 2010)
17- Behdin Tunç,
Dicle News Agency, correspondent in Şırnak
Charged with: Assisting the armed terrorist organization without being a member (PKK),
Sentence: 6 years and 3 months imprisonment (Turkish Penal Code Art.314/2)
Diyarbakır D Type Prison (since April 5, 2007)
18- Cengiz Dogan
Azadiya Welat Nusaybin correspondent
Charged with: Being member of the armed terrorist organization (KCK) As managing editor of Mavi ve Kent (Blue and City) periodical were sentenced to 1 year 6 months 22 days prison.
Mardin E Type Prison
19- Cengiz Kapmaz, ı
Özgür Gündem columnist
Charged with: Not indicted yet but arrested in KCK Operation.
Kandıra F Type Prison (Since November 25, 2011)
20- Cihan Gün,
Yürüyüş periodical correspondent
Charged with: Being member of the armed terrorist organization (DHKP-C)
Ankara F-Type Prison Number 1 (since 28 December 2010)
21- Coşkun Musluk,
Odatv news site, columnist
Charged with: Being member of the armed terrorist organization (Ergenekon)
Silivri L-Type Prison Number 2 (since March 06, 2011)
22- Çağdaş Kaplan,
Dicle News Agency, Correspondent in Istanbul
Charged with: Not indicted yet but arrested in KCK Operation on December 24, 2011.
Kandira F Type Prison (Since December 24, 2011)
23- Çağdaş Ulus,
Vatan daily, Correspondent in Istanbul
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F Type Prison (Since December 24, 2011)
24- Davut Uçar,
Etik Agency, Manager
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F Type Prison (Since December 24, 2011)
25- Deniz Kılıç,
Azadiya Welat, Batman province Representative
Charged with: making propaganda of the terrorist organization (PKK)
Sentence: 2 years and 1 month imprisonment (Anti-terror Law)
Batman M-Type Prison (Since April 04, 2011)
26- Deniz Yıldırım,
Aydınlık weekly, Editor in Chief
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization (Ergenekon)
Silivri L-Type Prison Number 1 (since 9 November 2009)
27- Dilek Demirel, (Woman)
Dicle News Agency, Correspondent in İzmir
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F Type Prison (Since December 24, 2011)
Arti Ivme Managing Editor
Charged with: Participating an anlawful meeting
Tekirdag F-type Prison
Odak periodical, Columnist
Charged with: Being member of an illegal armed organization (THKP-C Resistance Movement)
Kandira F Type Prison (Since December10, 2011)
Charged with: Helping the illegal organization
Igdir Prison (Since February 15, 2011)
Eylül periodical editor
Charged with: committing to change constitutional order by force
Edirne F-Type Prison (Since February, 2010)
32- Erdoğan Altan,
Dicle News Agency, Correspondent in Batman
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization (PKK)
Batman M-Type Closed Prison (since April 19, 2011)
33- Erol Zavar,
Odak periodical, Owner and Managing Editor
Charged with: committing to change constitutional order by force
Ankara-Sincan F-Type Prison
Bladder cancer
34- Ertuş Bozkurt
Dicle News Agency editor
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F Type Prison (Since December 24, 2011)
35- Fatma Koçak, (Woman)
Dicle News Agency Managing Editor
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Dicle News Agency, correspondent in Şırnak
Charged with: Assisting the armed terrorist organization (PKK)
Sentence: 6 years and 3 months imprisonment (Turkish Penal Code Art.314/2)
Kalkandere L Type Prison (since April 05, 2007)
Azadiya Welat Gaziantep province Representative
Charged with: Being member of an armed terrorist organization (KCK), making propaganda of a terrorist organization
Sentence: 21 years 8 months prison
Kandira F-type Prison (Since February 16, 2011)
Dicle News Agency Correspondent in Ankara,
Not indicted yet,
Charged with: Being member of an armed terrorist organization (KCK),
Bolu F-type Prison (Since June 07, 2011)
Özgür Radio (Radio Free), Coordinator
Charged with: Founding or joining in the illegally armed organization (MLKP)
Kocaeli T-Type Closed Prison Number 2 (Since September 12, 2006)
40- Hakan Soytemiz,
RED periodical, columnist
Charged with: Assisting and abetting the members of illegally armed organization(Revolutionary Headquarter),
Tekirdağ F-Type Prison (since September 25, 2010)
41- Halit Güdenoğlu,
Yürüyüş periodical, Owner and Managing Editor
Charged with: Being member of the armed terrorist organization (DHKP-C)
Ankara F-Type Prison Number 1 (since December 28, 2010)
Dicle News Agency, Correspondent in Hakkari
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization (KCK)
Bitlis E-Type Prison (since June 14, 2010)
Azadiya Welat columnist
Charged with: being a member of an armed terrorist organization (KCK)
Erzurum E-Type Prison (Since February 2010)
Atılım periodical, Owner and Managing Editor
Charged with: Founding or joining in the armed terrorist organization (MLKP)
Sentence: Life imprisonment
Kocaeli-Gebze M-Type Prison (since 2002)
Aydınlık weekly, Representative in Ankara
Charged with: defacing the documents related to security of the state, misusing these documents, swindling or stealing these documents (Ergenekon)
Silivri L-Type Prison Number 1 (since 29 March 2008)
Evrensel newspaper correspondent
Not indicted yet
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F-type Prison
47- İsmail Yıldız,
Editor of Dersim newspaper,
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F-type Prison
48- Kaan Ünsal,
Yürüyüş periodical correspondent
Charged with: being member of an armed terrorist organization (DHKP-C)
Ankara F-Type Prison Number 1 (Since December 28, 2010)
49- Kadri Kaya,
Dicle News Agency, Representative in Diyarbakır Regional Office
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization (PKK)
Batman M-Type Closed Prison (since April 19, 2011)
50- Kazım Şeker,
Ozgür Gündem editor
Charged with: Not indicted yet but arrested in KCK Operation.
Kandıra F Type Prison (Since November 25, 2011)
51- Kenan Karavil,
Radio Dünya (Radio World) (Adana local), Chief Editor
Charged with: Being member of the armed terrorist organization (PKK), committing a crime as a member of armed terrorist organization, making propaganda of illegal organization,
Sentence: 6 years 3 monthsimprisonment (Anti-terror Law Art.7/2)
Adana F-Type Prison (since December 11, 2009)
52- Kenan Kırkaya,
Dicle News Agency, Representative in Ankara
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F-type Prison
53- Mazlum Özdemir,
Dicle News Agency, Correspondent in Diyarbakır
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F-type Prison
54- Mehmet Emin Yıldırım,
Azadiya Welat daily Editor in Chief
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F-type Prison
55- Mehmet Güneş,
Türkiye Gerçeği (Reality of Turkey) periodical columnist
Charged with: Being member of an armed terrorist organization (Revolutionary Headquarters) Not indicted yet.
Tekirdag F-type Prison (Since December 10, 2011)
56- Mehmet Karaaslan,
Dicle News Agency, correspondent in Mersin province
Charged with: Being member of an armed terrorist organization (PKK) and making propaganda of the terrorist organization
Sentence: 7 years and 1 month imprisonment (Turkish Penal Code Art.314/2)
Birecik Prison (Since April 2, 2007)
57- Mehmet Yeşiltepe,
Devrimci Hareket (Revolutionay Movement) periodical author
Charged with: Founding or joining illegally armed organization (Revolutionary Headquarter)
Tekirdağ F-Type Prison Number 1
58- Miktat Algül,
Mezitli FM (radio), Editor in Chief
Charged with: Founding and leading an criminal gang,
Adana-Kürkçüler F-Type Prison
59- Murat Aydın
Dicle News Agency Mus province correspondent,
Not indicted yet,
Charged with: Being a member of an armed terrorist organization (KCK)
Bayburt M-type Prison (Since October 22, 2011)
60- Murat Çiftçi
Dicle News Agency, Correspondent Ankara
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation in Sanliurfa. Not indicted yet.
Sanliurfa Prison (Since January 24, 2012)
61- Musa Kurt,
Kamu Emekcileri Cephesi (Public Labor Front) periodical Managing Editor
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization (DHKP-C)
Ankara F-Type Prison Number 1 (since 28 December 2010)
62- Mustafa Balbay
Cumhuriyet daily, Representative in Ankara / Journalists / Author (member of PEN)
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization (Ergenekon)
Silivri L-Type Prison Number 1 (since March 06, 2009)
Solitary confinement since 28 February 2011
63- Mustafa Gök,
Ekmek ve Adalet (Bread and Justice) periodical Ankara representative
Charged with: committing to change constitutional order by force
Sentence: Life imprisonment
Ankara-Sincan F-Type Prison Number 1 (since February 2004)
64- Müyesser Yıldız, (Woman)
Odatv news site correspondent
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization (Ergenekon)
Silivri L-Type Prison (since March 06, 2011)
65 – Naciye Yavuz, (Woman)
Yürüyüş periodical, Correspondent in İstanbul
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization (DHKP-C)
Ankara Woman Closed Prison (since 28 December 2010)
66- Nahide Ermiş, (Woman)
Özgür Halk periodical and Demokratik Modernite periodical, Member of Editorial Board
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Bakirkoy Women Prison
67- Nedim Şener,
Milliyet daily correspondent
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization (Ergenekon)
Silivri L-Type Prison (since 6 March 2011)
68- Nevin Erdemir, (Woman)
Özgür Gündem daily, Editor
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Bakirkoy Women Prison
69- Nilgün Yıldız, (Woman)
Dicle News Agency, Correspondent in Mardin
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Bakirkoy Women Prison
70- Nurettin Fırat,
Özgür Gündem daily, Columnist
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F-type Prison
71- Nuri Yeşil,
Azadiya Welat Tunceli Representative
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization (PKK),
Elbistan E-Type Closed Prison (since May 27, 2010)
72- Oktay Candemir,
Dicle News Agency, Former Correspondent
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F-type Prison
73- Ozan Kılınç,
Azadiya Welat Managing Editor
Charged with: making propaganda of the terrorist organization (PKK)
Diyarbakır D-Type Prison (since July 22, 2010)
74- Ömer Çelik,
Dicle News Agency, Correspondent in Istanbul
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F-type Prison
75- Ömer Çiftçi,
Demokratik Modernite periodical, Owner
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F-type Prison
76- Ömer Faruk Çalışkan
Ozgur Halk Managing Editor
Charged with: Being member of the armed terrorist organization (KCK)
Sentenced to 6 years 3 months prison sentence
Kandira F-type Prison (Since July 19, 2008)
77- Pervin Yerlikaya, (Woman)
Dicle News Agency correspondent
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Bakirkoy Women Prison
78- Ragıp Zarakolu,
Evrensel daily, Columnist /Writer and Publisher
Not indicted yet,
Charged with: Being a member of an armed terrorist organization (KCK), Indictment has not been prepared yet.
Kocaeli Kandıra F Type Prison Number 2 (Since 1 November 2011)
79- Ramazan Pekgöz,
Dicle News Agency editor in Diyarbakır
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F-type Prison
80- Rohat Emekçi, (Woman)
Gün Radio (Diyarbakır, local), Speaker
Charged with: making propaganda of the terrorist organization (PKK)
Mardin E-Type Prison
81- Ruken Ergün, (Woman)
Azadiya Welat newspaper Managing Editor,
Charged with: making propaganda of the terrorist organization (PKK)
Adana Karatas Women Prison
82- Sadık Topaloğlu,
Dicle News Agency, Correspondent in Sanliurfa
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F-type Prison
83- Sait Çakır,
Odatv news site columnist
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization (Ergenekon)
Silivri L-Type Prison (since March 06, 2011)
84- Sebahattin Sumeli,
Ozgur Halk periodical edior
Charged with: Being a member of an armed terrorist organization (PKK), keeping or passing hazardous material, making propaganda of a terror organization
Sentence: 47 years imprisonment
Tekirdag F-type Prison
85- Sedat Şenoğlu,
Atılım periodical, Chief Coordinator
Charged with: keeping or passing hazardous material; attempting to abolish the constitutional order; buying or carrying or keeping unregistered firearm and bullet; forgery of official document (MLKP)
Edirne F-Type Prison (since September 12, 2006)
86- Semiha Alankuş, (Woman)
Dicle News Agency, Editor in Diyarbakır
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Bakirkoy Women Prison
87- Sevcan Atak (Woman)
Ozgur Halk editor
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization (Ergenekon)
Sentenced to 7 years 6 months prison sentence
Karatas Women Prison (Since June 18, 2010)
88- Seyithan Akyüz,
Azadiya Welat newspaper Adana province Representative
Charged with: Making propaganda of the terrorist organization (KCK)
Iskenderun M-type Prison (since December 11, 2009)
89-Sibel Güler, (Woman)
Özgür Gündem daily, Former correspondent
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Bakirkoy Women Prison
90- Sinan Aygül,
Dicle News Agency correspondent in Bitlis
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization (PKK)
Mus E-Type Prison (since January 23, 2011)
91- Soner Yalçın,
Odatv news site, Owner / Journalist
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization; defacing the documents related to security of the state, misusing these documents, swindling or stealing these documents (Ergenekon)
Silivri L-type Prison 1 (since February 18, 2011)
92- Songül Karatagna, (Woman)
Özgür Gündem newspaper Columnist
Not indicted yet,
Charged with: Being a member of an armed terrorist organization (KCK), Indictment has not been prepared yet.
Bakirkoy Women Prison (Since November 01, 2011)
93- Şahabettin Demir
Dicle News Agency Van province correspondent
Sentenced to 4 years imprisonment
Charged with: Making propaganda of an illegal organization
Bitlis e-Type Prison
94- Tuncay Özkan (Kanal Biz)
Kanal Biz TV, Owner / Journalist
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization (Ergenekon)
Silivri L-Type Prison Number 1 (since September 27, 2008)
Solitary confinement since 28 February 2011
95- Turabi Kişin
Ozgur Gundem editor
Charged with: Being a member of an armed terrorist organization (KCK), Indictment has not been prepared yet.
Kandira F-type Prison (Since January 02, 2012)
96- Turan Özlü,
Ulusal Kanal (National Channel) television, Editor in Chief
Charged with: Broadcasting tappings of Prime Minister, being member of an armed terrorist organization (Ergenekon)
Silivri L-Type Prison (since August 23, 2011)
97- Vedat Kurşun,
Azadiya Welat Managing Editor
Charged with: making propaganda of terrorist organization or its purpose (PKK)
Sentence: 166 years and 6 months imprisonment. The Court of Appeal rejected the judgment. The court revised the decision as 10 years imprisonment. There are 2 more cases where he was imprisoned for 3 years and 4,5 years.
Diyarbakır D-Type Prison
98- Yalçın Küçük,
Journalist / Author
Charged with: being member of the armed terrorist organization (Ergenekon)
Silivri L-Type Prison Number 2 (since March 06, 2011)
99- Yüksel Genç, (Woman)
Özgür Gündem columnist
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Bakirkoy Women Prison
100- Zeynep Kuray, (Woman)
BirGün daily correspondent
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Bakirkoy Women Prison
101- Ziya Çiçekçi,
Özgür Gündem daily, Owner and Managing Editor
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Kandira F-type Prison
102- Zuhal Tekiner, (Woman)
Dicle News Agency, Owner.
Charged with: Arrested on December 24, 2011 in KCK operation. Not indicted yet.
Bakirkoy Women Prison
103- Serdar Engin
Ozgur Gundem editor
Charged with: Glorifying crime and criminal
Sentence: 9 months imprisonment
Silivri F-type prison
104- Tayyip Temel
Azadiya Welat former Editor in Chief
Not indicted yet.
Diyarbakir D-type (Since October 4, 2011)
