ISTANBUL - 6 journalists detained through an Istanbul based investigation were arrested on the grounds of their professional activities.
Journalists Necla Demir, Rahime Karvar, Ahmet Güneş, Welat Ekin, Vedat Örüç and Reyhan Hacıoğlu, who were detained in house raids on 17 January through an Istanbul based investigation, were arrested due to "illegal organization membership".
Necla Demir, Rahime Karvar, Ahmet Güneş and Welat Ekin, who were detained in Istanbul, were brought to Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan. Reyhan Hacıoğlu, who was detained in Wan, and Vedat Örüç, who was detained in Mersin, were taken to testify via Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS).
The prosecutor did not take the testifies of the journalists and referred them to the Criminal Judicature of Peace for arrest. The judge ruled for the arrest of all 6 journalists on the charge of "being an illegal organization member".
The arrest of the journalists was based on their news reports and discussion programmes.
FREE PRESS CANNOT BE SILENCED
Journalists protested the arrest decision with victory signs and the slogan "Free Press cannot be silenced". Journalists and citizens in the courthouse also supported the arrested journalists.