JournalismPakistan.com | Published April 25, 2018
Join our WhatsApp channel
The chairman of the Turkish opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet on Tuesday denied charges his staff aided a terrorist organization, days before a final verdict in a trial dismissed by critics as an attack on press freedom.
Akin Atalay (pictured), who has been in jail for over 500 days, is the only suspect in the case currently held in prison, while 16 others, mostly journalists, have been gradually released but remain on trial.
All are charged with supporting, through their coverage, three organizations that Turkey views as terror groups - the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, the ultra-left Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front, and the Gulen movement blamed for the 2016 failed coup.
If convicted, they could face sentences of up to 43 years in prison.
Atalay denied the charges at the courthouse in Silivri, outside Istanbul, and accused prosecutors of “stealing from people’s lives”, according to live coverage on Cumhuriyet’s website.
“I am reading the indictment about us again and again but I cannot understand it,” he said.
“The target is clear: take over Cumhuriyet, hand it over to docile hands and give an ultimatum to other newspapers and journalists.”
Supporters of the accused have repeatedly said the charges against the journalists are absurd and that the trial is political.
They have noted that the outlawed groups cited in the indictment are themselves at odds with each other.
“Journalism is seen as a crime ... Are you aware of the danger? Cumhuriyet daily has no other job than journalism and publishing activity,” Atalay told the court.
The hearings are expected to continue until Friday before a verdict is announced.
Cumhuriyet’s Editor-in-Chief Murat Sabuncu and investigative journalist Ahmet Sik were released in March pending the conclusion of the trial.- AFP/Photo: AP
December 05, 2024: UNESCO and IRADA hosted a national consultation in Islamabad, calling for inclusive Internet governance reforms in Pakistan to protect digital rights, freedom of expression, and access to information through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
December 04, 2024: A viral video claiming journalist Matiullah Jan was expelled from PMA has been debunked by iVerify Pakistan. The video, edited with AI, originates from the drama serial Ehd-e-Wafa.
November 30, 2024: Journalist Matiullah Jan has been released from Adiala Jail after securing bail, ending fears of a potential transfer to Attock Jail. He expressed gratitude to supporters and shared light-hearted moments about his custody.
November 30, 2024: Daily Dawn condemns the arrest of journalist Matiullah Jan as a misuse of the law. The editorial highlights concerns over the state's weaponization of legal provisions against journalists, activists, and dissenters.
November 30, 2024: The Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court has granted bail to journalist Matiullah Jan in a case involving drugs and terrorism charges. He was released on a surety bond of PKR 10,000 following the suspension of his physical remand by the Islamabad High Court.
November 29, 2024: The Lahore High Court has ordered the production of journalist Shakir Mahmood Awan’s alleged kidnapper by Monday while summoning IG Punjab and demanding CCTV footage from Safe City.
November 29, 2024: Suno TV faces criticism for targeting senior journalist Matiullah Jan with a smear campaign following his controversial abduction and arrest. This raises serious concerns about media ethics and press freedom in Pakistan.
November 29, 2024: WISPAP has requested the Ministry of Interior to extend the deadline for VPN registration in Pakistan, citing the need to ensure compliance amid increasing VPN usage after platform bans.
December 05, 2024 Over 50 journalists protested in Kuala Lumpur against proposed amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act, which threaten press freedom. IFJ and NUJM urge the government to withdraw the bill and engage in stakeholder consultation.
December 04, 2024 The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 faces uncertainty as Pakistan's hosting rights clash with India's refusal to participate. A political and financial standoff unfolds.
December 03, 2024 Submit your work for the Global Shining Light Award by February 28, 2025. Celebrate investigative journalism from the Global South at the Kuala Lumpur conference.
November 21, 2024 Investigative journalist Rana Ayyub received over 200 threats after her phone number was leaked on social media by a right-wing content creator. IFJ and IJU demand Maharashtra authorities take immediate action against those responsible for this targeted online harassment.
November 20, 2024 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Germany is accepting applications for its 2025 Berlin Fellowship Program, offering journalists from crisis areas six months of digital security training, networking opportunities, and more.