News Centre
BirGün reporter Arı, who has been detained for 75 days for practicing journalism, stands before a judge for the first time today.
Ahead of the hearing, press professional organisations held a statement in front of the Ankara Courthouse in Sıhhiye.
In addition to İsmail Arı's family and press professional organisations, the statement was attended by CHP Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir, CHP Ankara MP Murat Emir, CHP İstanbul MP Suat Özçağdaş, CHP İzmir MP Gökçe Gökçen, CHP Eskişehir MP Utku Çakırözer, CHP Bursa MP Kayıhan Pala, CHP Urfa MP Mahmut Tanal, CHP members Selin Sayek Böke and Aylin Nazlıaka, former CHP MP İlhan Cihaner, SOL Party PM (Party Assembly) Member Alper Taş, SOL Parti Spokespersons İlknur Başer, Önder İşleyen, and İsmail Hakkı Tombul, EMEP (Labour Party) Antep MP Sevda Karaca, KESK (Confederation of Public Employees' Unions) Organising and Press Publication Secretary Sema Pınar, BİRTEK-SEN (United Textile, Weaving and Leather Workers' Union) Chairman Mehmet Türkmen, Eğitim-Sen (Union of Education and Science Labourers) Chairman Kemal Irmak, Eğitim-İş (Union of Education and Science Workers) Chairman Kadem Özbay, and journalist Alican Uludağ.
BirGün Publication Coordinator Yaşar Aydın took the floor first during the press statement. Yaşar Aydın spoke as follows:
"We know that we are being targeted because we stand as journalists against this ruling power. This is why İsmail has been in prison for 75 days. They will read out that fabricated indictment to us once again. I hope we will get İsmail back today, without ever understanding why we have been separated from our friend for 75 days.
We will not take a single step back from this. İsmail wrote even in prison. İsmail will also continue to write from the moment he comes out. You will never see us bowing our heads; they have not seen it, and İsmail did not bow his head either. We have not written anything to be ashamed of. One day, we will monitor the trials of those who are trying to judge us today. We would also like to thank our readers, who have never left us alone."
"WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEM"
Speaking next, DİSK Basın-İş (Press, Publishing and Printing Workers' Union of Turkey) Chairman Turgut Dedeoğlu said, "If it weren't for independent journalists, these news stories would not exist. We wouldn't know about anything; we are here thanks to them. We are grateful for them. Long live the free press."
Sinan Tartaoğlu, President of the Ankara Branch of the TGS (Türkiye Gazeteciler Sendikası - Journalists' Union of Turkey), noted, "In a short while, we will be inside fighting against the crime of declaring journalism a crime. In a short while, we will put those who commit this crime on trial alongside İsmail."
