Istanbul Prosecutor Detains Journalists Covering Turkey Protests
Turkish authorities have detained eight journalists in Istanbul, reversing an earlier decision to release them. The journalists were initially taken into custody for their coverage of widespread anti-government protests across Turkey. This move has drawn criticism from press freedom organizations and raises concerns about media restrictions in the country. The reporters were apprehended earlier this week during dawn raids on their residences.
Initial Release and Subsequent Detention
An Istanbul court had initially ordered the release of the journalists. However, this decision was abruptly overturned by a prosecutor, leading to a formal arrest order, according to legal representatives and media outlets. The journalists are now officially remanded in custody.
Journalists Identified
Among those detained are prominent figures including Yasin Akgül of Agence France-Presse (AFP), and Bülent Kılıç, a former AFP photojournalist recognized as the Guardian agency photographer of the year in 2014. Kılıç’s award-winning work includes coverage of the conflict in Ukraine, events on the Syrian-Turkish border, and the MH17 flight disaster.
- Yasin Akgül (Agence France-Presse)
- Bülent Kılıç (Former AFP photojournalist)
- Other journalists (Names not specified)
Coverage of Anti-Government Demonstrations
The arrests followed the journalists’ reporting on significant anti-government demonstrations that have recently erupted in Turkey. These protests were triggered by the apprehension of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu the previous week and represent some of the largest public displays of dissent in recent years.
Charges Leveled Against Journalists
Court documents indicate that all eight journalists are charged with “participating in unlawful rallies and marches and disobeying dispersal orders.” Reporters Without Borders condemned the court’s decision as “scandalous,” while the Turkish Photojournalists Union labeled it “unlawful, unconscionable, and unacceptable.”
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Political Context: İmamoğlu and Erdoğan Rivalry
Ekrem İmamoğlu, a key political opponent to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is considered a potential challenger in upcoming elections. Coinciding with İmamoğlu’s transfer to a high-security prison outside Istanbul, he was also nominated as a presidential candidate by the opposition Republican People’s party.
Growing Protests and Government Response
Demonstrations, initially centered outside Istanbul’s city hall, have escalated rapidly, attracting tens of thousands of participants nightly. Protesters express their discontent with decades of governance by Erdoğan and his Justice and Development party (AKP).
Turkish authorities have responded with increasing force to the protests. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 1,418 individuals have been detained across the past week in connection with the demonstrations.
Minister’s Statement on Arrests
Yerlikaya further commented, “Currently, 979 suspects remain in custody, and 478 individuals will be brought before the court today. We will not concede to those who seek to terrorize the streets, assault our national and moral values, and target our law enforcement officers.”
Concerns Over Press Freedom
Erol Önderoğlu, a representative of Reporters Without Borders, highlighted the unprecedented nature of these arrests. He stated, “This marks the first instance where a clearly identified journalist has been formally arrested for simply carrying out their journalistic duties, based on the law concerning gatherings and demonstrations.”
Expert Analysis on Journalist Detentions
Emre Kızılkaya, a Turkish media expert at Harvard Kennedy School’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, noted the unusual step of prosecutors officially requesting the continued detention of journalists, despite frequent detentions in Turkey.
International Profile of Detained Journalists
Kızılkaya suggested, “One possible factor is the international recognition of these photojournalists. Six of these journalists were detained in Istanbul for allegedly violating a law on public demonstrations.”
Implications for Reporting on Protests
He emphasized that these arrests demonstrate journalists are not protected while reporting on demonstrations, even when acting professionally. “Authorities are disregarding the constitutionally protected right to report, asserting that the Istanbul governorate prohibited demonstrations and the journalists were present. Their mere presence is being deemed sufficient grounds for detention,” Kızılkaya concluded.