Constitutional Court Rules for Alpay, Altan to be Released

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Deciding that rights of imprisoned journalists Şahin Alpay and Mehmet Altan have been violated, the Constitutional Court (AYM) has ruled release of Alpay and Altan.

Speaking to bianet, lawyer Veysel Ok stated that the AYM affirmed that 1-year detention was unjust. Ok said that he didn’t see the content of the decision and hopefully this decision is such as to be rendered for all journalists.

“My application to the AYM about Altan was the first application in the wake of July 15 coup attempt. I had done it in August. The AYM issuing the decision of release is important in terms of journalism.

“It is a delayed decision with respect to freedom of expression.

“I didn’t see the content of the decision but I hope it will pave the way for the release of all journalists. Freedom of expression can be maintained in Turkey”.

Ok said that they expect them to be released today (January 11) following the AYM’s decision. 

What happened?

Şahin Alpay was detained in the first detention wave on July 27, 2016 following the July 15 coup attempt. He was arrested since then.

Mehmet Altan was detained in the first detention wave on July 27, 2016 and arrested on September 22.

Alpay was jailed pending trial in Zaman case and Altan was jailed pending trial in the coup attempt media case. 

About Mehmet Altan

Mehmet Hasan Altan (born 11 January 1953) is a Turkish academic economist, journalist, and author of over 25 books. Describing himself as a "Marxist-liberal", he is the originator of the term "Second Republic", arguing that Turkey needs to reconstitute its republic as a true democracy.

He is a strong supporter of the Accession of Turkey to the European Union.

Altan has worked at the Istanbul University Faculty of Economics since 1986, first as assistant professor, then associate professor (1987) and full professor (1993).

From 1987 to November 2006 he contributed to Sabah, before moving to Star, becoming editor-in-chief. He left Star in January 2012. 

About Şahin Alpay

Alpay is a writer, political scientist and journalist.

Political scientist, journalist-author. He was born in Ayvalık / Balıkesir on the April 18, 1944. He completed his primary education in Nişantaşı Nilüfer Hatun Primary School, secondary education in English Boys School and high school in Robert College.

After his graduation from Ankara University Faculty of Political Sciences (1967) he became a research assistant in the Faculty of Education of the same university (1968-71). He continued this duty in Sweden Stockholm University where he went for PhD studies (1972-81). He completed a PhD program in Political Science (1981).

When he returned he worked as an editor and author in newspapers of Cumhuriyet (1982-92), Sabah (1993-94), Milliyet (1994-2001) and Zaman. In the same time he gave lessons in Turkey in Anadolu and Boğaziçi Universities and abroad in Princeton University in the USA. Starting from 2001, he became an academic member at the Department of Political Sciences and International Relations in Bahçeşehir University.

Between the years 1999 - 2002 he presented a weekly interview program called Entelektüe lBakış in CNN Türk channel. In 2006 he started to present the program Akıl Defteri in Mehtap TV. He continued writing columns in Zaman newspaper.

WORKS: Turkar i Stockholm: En Studie av Invandrare, Samhalle och Politik (Turks in Stockholm: A Social and Political Research about Immigrants, 1980), SHP-DSP Nerede Birleşiyor Nerede Ayrılıyor (1986), 2000 Yılında Türkiye (1991), Türkiye‘nin Tanıkları – İçerden Bakanlar (2002), Türkiye‘ninTanıkları - DışardanBakanlar(2003).

TRANSLATIONS (from Astrid Lindgren): Şamatalı Köy (1990), Pippi Uzunçorap Korsan (1991). (BK/TK)

This publication has been produced within the partnership with Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso for the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), co-funded by the European Commission. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of media partner IPS Communication Foundation and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.