An indictment drafted by Turkish prosecutors seeks 10,5 years jail sentence for two journalists, Artı TV Ankara representative Sibel Hürtaş and Mezopotamya news agency reporter Hayri Demir, due to their social media messages about a Turkish military operation in Syria’s Afrin region, Diken news portal reported on Tuesday.
On Jan.22, Turkish police teams detained dozens of people including local politicians and journalists due to their criticism of the Afrin operation, which was launched jointly by the Turkish military and Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters on Jan. against the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), which Turkey sees as the Syrian extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Hürtaş and Demir were among the detained but they were released on judicial probation later.
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has drafted an indictment against the two journalists in which it seeks a total of 10 years and six months jail sentences for them based on the 216th Article of the Turkish Penal Code, which concerns inciting the public to hatred and enmity and Article 7 of the Turkish Anti-Terror Law which concerns making the propaganda of a terror organization through media.
Remarks of Hürtaş during an interview with former Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Ahmet Faruk Ünsal in which she asked, “We should ask why Turkey was disturbed of Afrin while it was a secure and safe place?” made their way to the indictment as an element of crime.
Hürtaş, whose trial is set to begin soon, said the prosecutor’s move is a serious blow to the freedom of the press and expression.
“I will continue to perform my job as a journalist within the framework of the media ethics,” the journalist said.
The Turkish government and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have reacted strongly to people who oppose the operation, and prosecutor’s offices have initiated investigations into those who share social media messages critical of the operation.
from Turkish Minute https://www.turkishminute.com/2018/05/15/two-journalists-face-lengthy-jail-sentences-due-to-criticism-on-afrin-operation/
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder