Turkey: journalist detained for “praising crime and the criminal”
NUJ urges Turkish authorities to release journalist Merdan Yanardağ.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has joined the International Federation of Journalists in calling for the release of Merdan Yanardağ, editor-in-chief of Turkish broadcaster TELE1.
On 27 June, Yanardağ was arrested following a judicial investigation into his comments broadcasted about Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan. The journalist has since been charged with “praising crime and the criminal” and “propaganda for a terrorist organisation”. His comments referencing Öcalan said he was “Turkey’s longest serving political prisoner. If normal execution laws were applicable, he should in fact be released… The isolation imposed on Öcalan has no legal basis.”
The European Federation of Journalists has joined calls for Yanardağ’s immediate release. An investigation by the chairman of the Turkish broadcasting regulator has also commenced into the TELE1 channel.
Anthony Bellanger, IFJ general secretary, said:
"Our colleague has been imprisoned for simply doing his job. We urge the Turkish authorities to stop the systematic harassment and intimidation of journalists and media workers, who are simply doing their job and exercising their right to freedom of expression. There is a need for a free and pluralistic media atmosphere in the country and authorities must contribute to it."