Furkan Karabay, a reporter for 10Haber, has been arrested over his reports and social media posts regarding the investigation into Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, sparking reactions from journalist organizations.
Karabay was detained following his coverage of the investigation into Ahmet Özer, who was removed from his position and arrested on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization.” Press organizations have strongly condemned Karabay’s arrest, asserting that journalism is not a crime and calling for his immediate release.
TGC: JOURNALISM IS NOT A CRIME
The Turkish Journalists’ Association (TGC) issued a statement today, emphasizing that Karabay’s arrest is unlawful and calling for his release. “It is illegal to accuse, prosecute, or detain a journalist for sharing news with the public. Stop preventing citizens from knowing the truth by imprisoning journalists. Journalism is not a crime,” the statement read.
TGS: THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF PUNITIVE MEASURES
The Turkish Journalists’ Union (TGS) also released a statement on social media. Criticizing Karabay’s arrest, TGS stated, “Article 6/1 of the Anti-Terror Law is being used as a tool to silence journalists and impose punishment preemptively. The judiciary’s overly broad and ambiguous interpretation of the offense of targeting individuals involved in counterterrorism has led to numerous cases. The arrest of 10Haber journalist Furkan Karabay is the latest example of preemptive punishment, even though it’s clear he will be acquitted.”
