Özgür Gündem Editor-in-Chief on Watch Mavioğlu Appears Before Judge

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Journalist Ertuğrul Mavioğlu appeared before judge yesterday (September 29) on the grounds that he participated in the “Editor-in-Chief on Watch” campaign launched in protest of crackdowns on Özgür Gündem daily.

Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK) Press-Labor and Journalists’ Association of Turkey (TGS) followed the hearing.

In his plea, stating that he participated in the campaign because of the intense pressure against Özgür Gündem, said “I did this for the sake of protecting freedom of the press. If the articles subjected to accusation are reviewed, [it is seen that] they qualify to be news.

“I have been subjected to various accusations over 31 years. Every time I was accused, I understood that there are things that want to be covered. That is why I joined the solidarity. I asked prosecutor in my prosecution questioning of ‘why are there such intense investigations now while no investigation was being launched in 2013’. The prosecutor replied ‘Because of the conjuncture’. As an attorney’s child, I know that law doesn’t change by conjuncture. The conjuncture change prevents writing of some reports”.

What had happened?

Since the recommencement of armed conflicts on in July 24 2015, which coincided with the interruption of the resolution process, Özgür Gündem has faced countless investigations, charges and instances of censorships. Against the oppressive measures, the campaign “Editorship- in- Chief on Watch” campaign was launched on May 3 in solidarity with the newspaper. The “Editorship-in-Chief on Watch” campaign was launched on May 3 against the oppressive measures and in solidarity with the newspaper.

TİHV President Fincancı, RSF Turkey Representative and bianet rapporteur Önderoğlu and journalist author Nesin were arrested on the charge of "terror propaganda" for joining Özgür Gündem's Editor-in-Chief on Watch campaign. They were and later released pending trial.

İstanbul 8th Criminal Court of Peace shut down Özgür Gündem newspaper on August 16. The verdict decision said that the newspaper would be “temporarily shut down” but did not mention how long it would remain closed.

Following the court’s decision, police raided the newspaper’s headquarters. 22 people were taken into custody.

Police have also raided the apartment of Filiz Koçali and Eren Keskin, as well as Sinan Zarakolu, who was registered at the same address. Sinan Zarakolu is the son of publisher, columnist and journalist Ragıp Zarakolu, who was registered at the same address.

On August 19, Özgür Gündem Publishing Consultant Board member Aslı Erdoğan was arrested.

On August 22, Özgür Gündem’s Editor-in-Chief Zana Kaya and Chief Editor İnan Kızılkaya were arrested on the charge of “being a member of an [illegal] organization.

On August 31, Necmiye Alpay, Özgür Gündem’s Publishing Consultant Board member, linguist and writer, was also arrested on the charges of “being a member of an armed terrorist organization” and “subverting the unity and integrity of the state”.

On September 1, nine people from the watch’s administration were asked by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to appear before the Press Bar within 15 days.

The nine were journalist and bianet Project Advisor Nadire Mater, journalists Tuğrul Eryılmaz, Hasan Cemal, Hasan Hüseyin Tahmaz and Dicle Anter, Özgür Radio’s General Coordinator Derya Okatan, Executive Editor of the closed haberdar.com website, writer Murat Uyurkulak, and HDP Central Executive Committee member Çilem Küçükkeleş. News reports published on about the watch campaign were provided as justification for the investigations against them. (EA/TK)