Verdict Awaiting For Füsun Erdoğan

A verdict is soon to be reached in the Gaye case where journalists Füsun Erdoğan, Sedat Şenoğlu, Bayram Namaz, Ziya Ulusoy, Arif Çelebi and İbrahim Çiçek are standing trial.

While the verdict is expected to be issued on today’s hearing, bianet interviewed Erol Önderoğlu (Reporters Sans Frontiers) and Esben Orberg (European Federation of Journalists).

Önderoğlu criticized that court declined to question evidence submitted related to the case. Orberg, on the other hand, said that the government regarded journalists as political activists.

Önderoğlu: Court declined to question evidence

* Füsun Edoğan is facing very serious charges. In a country where EU member candidacy and ECHR measures are at stake, all judicial processes must be held according to the binding regulations.

* For the past 10 years, we have been witnessing trials of journalists in Turkey related to irrelevant charges. This fact has also been portrayed in Füsun Erdoğan’s defense.

* According to the case file and information provided by attorneys, no evidence really supports the legitimacy of 7 year long prison term. On the contrary, we are observong that the court declined to question evidence provided by the police. This agony must end immediately.

Orberg: The government must be tolerant towards media

* As EFJ, even the jailing of one journalist is a situation that we cannot accept. unacceptable. None of the charges count as a crime in anywhere across Europe. This is terrible.

* Media can criticize the government, media can publish the results of its investigations. The charges on Füsun Erdoğan are related to such investigations. Even though she has a socialist identity, her activities are journalistic. The government must be tolerant towards the media. However, PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is trying to legitimize the tormenting on journalist by saying that they are “political activists”.  Journalistsae journalists and they are doing their job.

What happened?

In 2006 police detained several journalists within "Gaye operation”. Those detained journalists have been charged with life sentence for “forcefully changing the constitutional order”. On the other hand, journalists Erdoğan, Namaz and Çelebi have been charged with 8 years of prison for related charges. (EA/BM)

* Click here to read the original article in Turkish.