JournalismPakistan.com | Published September 13, 2017
Join our WhatsApp channelBRUSSELS - The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) have condemned the court’s decision to maintain the six Cumhuriyet journalists and media workers in pre-trial detention, after a 13-hour hearing at Silivri prison, on September 11, 2017.
The court ordered their detention despite clear demonstration by the defendants’ lawyers that the accusations of “without being a member of that organization, spreading propaganda on behalf of an illegal terrorist organization” were completely baseless.
An international delegation including the IFJ-EFJ, IPI, PEN International, Norsk PEN, PEN Vlaanderen, RSF, foreign consulate representatives, foreign press correspondents and MEP Rebecca Harms has attended the hearing and shared solidarity messages with all the defendants.
Around 400 individuals – including 130 lawyers, 15 members of Turkish Parliament and trade union representatives from TGS, DISK-Basin Is, TGC – were allowed to enter the courtroom while a similar number of people were kept outside because of lack of spaces.
Following the 6th hearing which started at 9:00, the court ruled at 23:40 – after hearing seven witnesses, an IT expert, lawyers and defendants – in an interim decision that Akın Atalay, Ahmet Şık, Kemal Aydoğdu, Emre İper, Kadri Gürsel and Murat Sabuncu must remain under arrest until the next hearing scheduled for 25-09-2017 at 15:30. One of the judges has expressed a dissenting opinion to release Kadri Gürsel on probation but the majority of the court was in favor of prolonging his pre-trial detention. These journalists are in captivity for more than 300 days.
The ruling was motivated by the fact that three witnesses are still to be interrogated and the expert report to be delivered on journalists’ professional phone examination. The court has also asked journalists to share their passwords to get access to some protected communications despite the fact that they demonstrated and detailed all their contents during the hearing. Questions of the court were all related to the editorial line of the newspaper, the system to edit the titles of articles before publication, the criteria to hire new journalists, the procedure to control correspondents’ reports and the internal decision mechanism between the private company and the foundation running the newspaper.
Along with many other international organizations, the IFJ and the EFJ went to Istanbul on September 11 to monitor the trial.
“Defendants imprisoned have been held for months in pre-trial detention on baseless evidence. The independence of the judiciary is clearing a main concern for journalists. It seems that you can deliver the best defense arguments; the judges are not taking them into consideration and are continuing to issue the same decisions. The courage and the professionalism of our colleagues are amazing in such a chaotic situation! They should be released immediately and all charges should be dropped,” IFJ/EFJ representatives said following the ruling.
In addition, both Federations welcomed the statement of Harlem Désir, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and David Kaye, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, calling on Turkey to release journalists from prison and remove restrictions on media freedom.
“We have repeatedly urged Turkey to drop charges against the Cumhuriyet journalists and executives. They must be released immediately, together with all journalists in prison in the country,” the two mandate holders said. “Freedom of expression is not a right that may only be exercised when deemed convenient by those in power.”
Charges against defendants include “helping an armed terrorist organization while not being a member” and “employment-related abuse of trust”.
The next hearing will take place at Istanbul’s Çağlayan Courthouse September 25. – IFJ media release
February 11, 2025: The PFUJ has petitioned the Islamabad High Court to suspend the PECA Amendment Act, arguing that the law curtails press freedom and contains contradictory provisions. The court has issued a notice to the Attorney General for assistance.
February 09, 2025: Hum News Network becomes the first Pakistani channel to embrace AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek, enhancing productivity and innovation. Discover how this visionary move sets new standards in media.
February 08, 2025: As Pakistan faces an economic crisis, the government splurges taxpayers' money on full-page ads and press releases to glorify its achievements. Critics call it a wasteful PR stunt. Read how public funds are being misused for political propaganda.
February 07, 2025: PTV pensioners staged nationwide protests demanding their unpaid pensions, medical benefits, and dues for nearly 400 retirees. Protesters, supported by PFUJ, criticized PTV management for corruption and lavish expenses while neglecting retirees' rights.
February 06, 2025: PFUJ has challenged the controversial PECA Act 2025 in the Islamabad High Court, citing it as an attack on press freedom. Journalists and rights organizations protest the law’s implications for free speech and media independence in Pakistan.
February 06, 2025: Pakistani women journalists like Munizae Jahangir and Asma Shirazi face severe threats, harassment, and online abuse. This article explores the struggles of women in media, the systemic challenges, and potential solutions to ensure press freedom and journalist safety.
January 29, 2025: As the White House welcomes podcasters and digital journalists, Pakistan tightens censorship through PECA amendments, silencing independent voices and forcing journalists into exile. A stark contrast in press freedom emerges.
January 29, 2025: Pakistan’s latest PECA amendments expand government control over social media, criminalize misinformation, and threaten freedom of expression. Media stakeholders and human rights groups condemn the draconian changes. Learn more about the implications for journalists and activists.
February 09, 2025 The Dart Center Ochberg Fellowship 2025 is open for applications! This prestigious program at Columbia University offers journalists an intensive seminar on trauma reporting, media ethics, and responsible journalism. Apply by March 3, 2025.
February 07, 2025 Mozambican journalist Albino Sibia was killed while filming police brutality, and reporter Pedro Junior was shot covering his funeral. Arlindo Chissale remains missing. These attacks highlight the dire state of press freedom in Mozambique amid post-election unrest.
February 05, 2025 The Committee to Protect Journalists urges the Indian government to stop targeting independent journalism after revoking the nonprofit and tax-exempt statuses of The Reporters’ Collective and The File. Learn how this impacts investigative reporting and media freedom in India.
February 04, 2025 Ukraine’s security service (SBU) has opened a criminal case for disclosure of state secrets following Ukrainska Pravda’s report on statements by military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. CPJ urges authorities to respect press freedom and journalist protections.
February 03, 2025 Cambodian journalists Duong Akhara and Lay Socheat have been detained on incitement charges after publishing a video allegedly showing torture in a cyberscam center. Press freedom advocates call for their immediate release.