A Turkish court ordered the arrest of the editor-in-chief of the Cumhuriyet newspaper, Can Dundar, and Ankara correspondent Erdem Gul for assisting a terrorist organisation, CNN Turk said. The history of journalism is full of such examples as Watergate or Wikileaks that show states would like to keep some facts secret.
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The European Union (EU) has expressed concern over the arrest of two Turkish journalists on “espionage” charges after reports by the pair blew the lid off Ankara’s arms delivery to the Takfiri terror groups operating in neighboring Syria.
The demonstrators, who included journalists and members of the parliament, chanted anti-government slogans such as “Shoulder to shoulder against fascism”, and “Tayyip thief, Tayyip liar, Tayyip killer”, referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has taken legal action in person against Dundar, requesting life sentence for him. “But it’s for common good to bring them to light”. Although the journalists were later released, the Iraqi translator was kept in detention. Later, the Turkish government edited its narrative and claimed that arms were heading to Turkmens in Syria’s Bayırbucak.
Before the court hearing on Thursday, the secretary general of Reporters Without Borders, Christophe Deloire, said in a statement, “If both of these journalists are imprisoned, it’s going to be added signs the Turkish authorities are willing to use systems worthy of a bygone era to be able to curb independent journalism in Turkey”.
In May, the Cumhuriyet paper published what it said were images of Turkish trucks carrying ammunition to Syrian militants.
Cumhuriyet was awarded the media watchdog’s 2015 Press Freedom Prize just last week, with Dundar travelling to Strasbourg to receive the award.
“This newspaper has participated in acts of espionage”.
Publication of the story at the time prompted President Tayyip Erdogan to vow revenge, saying those behind it would “pay a heavy price” for the story. “I will not let this go”.
The video showed men in police uniforms and civilian clothing unscrewing bolts to open the cargo area of the trucks, and unpacking boxes of what look like medicine.
The arrests are the latest in what is seen as a crackdown on media freedom following this month’s landslide victory by the ruling AK Party.
Protestors on Saturday said Erdogan’s government was trying to “silence” free speech, as well as cover up a government scandal.
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“We are accused of “spying”.
