It was decided to continue the imprisonment of Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) Co-chair and MA editor Dicle Müftüoğlu, who has been held in Ankara Sincan Women's Prison for about 9 months, in her second hearing yesterday. Her colleagues reacted to the fact that Müftüoğlu, who was tried on charges of "being a member of a terrorist organization" and "leading a terrorist organization" due to her professional activities, was not released.

 

A LEGAL ODD

 

Stating that the Constitution has been suspended, Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (DİSK) Press Business Chair Turgut Dedeoğlu said that many unlawful acts occurred at the hearing. Dedeoğlu said: “Our friend was not released again due to arbitrary reasons. You arrest a journalist on World Press Freedom Day and imprison her for 9 months. However, you release other journalists you recruited in the same investigation. Isn't there a legal quirk here?" 

 

'OUR PROFESSION IS BEING JUDGED'

 

Pointing out that the profession of journalism is essentially being judged in the person of journalists, Dedeoğlu said: "Our profession is being judged here, “Our profession is being dominated and made into captivity.” 

 

Criticizing the lack of sensitivity of their colleagues in the West to the cases of Kurdish journalists, Dedeoğlu said that the existing silence was reflected in the court decisions. Dedeoğlu continued: “The attention of the world press needs to be drawn to this region. Courts can easily make arbitrary decisions. For example, if we had been able to gather IFJ, EFJ and other press organizations from around the world here, and if other unions had come in larger numbers, the judge's decision would have been different. Because not just one person is being judged here, but the profession is being judged. We must cherish the profession of journalism. The profession of journalism is a public profession. If we do this profession with fear and intimidation, we cannot convey the truth to the public." 

 

'REVENGE IS BEING TAKEN ON THE FREE PRESS'

 

Nurcan Yalçın, a member of the Mezopotamya Women Journalists Association (MKG), also stated that the picture that emerged at the hearing revealed the stage of press freedom in Turkey. Reacting to the fact that the release decision was not given despite the refutation of witness statements, Yalçın said: “This hearing is a clear example that the arrest of journalists does not depend on evidence or witnesses. Dicle's imprisonment is now an act of revenge against the Free Press. As her friends, we state that Dicle is not alone. We will continue to demonstrate our stance against this unlawfulness in the coming period. We invite everyone to attend the hearing on February 29.”