4 More Journalists from Özgürlükçü Demokrasi Arrested
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Detained during the operation launched against staff of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi to which a trustee was appointed, journalists Mehmet Ali Çelebi, Reyhan Hacıoğlu, Hicran Urun and Pınar Tarlak have been arrested.
Seven editors and workers who were taken into custody on April 4 as part of the investigation launched in the wake of a trustee being appointed to Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper and Gün Printing House, were taken to İstanbul Courthouse yesterday (April 10).
According to Newspaper Karınca, the prosecutor didn’t take their statements. Newspaper’s editors Çelebi, Hacıoğlu and Urun, and the staff Tarlak and Sola were sent to 3rd Criminal Judgeship of Peace for arrest.
The prosecutor demanded that newspaper staff Nedir Demirkıran and former staff Mehmet Beyazit be released on probation.
While Mehmet Ali Çelebi, Reyhan Hacıoğlu, Hicran Urun and Pınar Tarlak were arrested on charge of “being a member of an illegal organization”, the other three figures were released on probation.
What happened?
On March 28, police raided the central office of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper in the district of Beyoğlu in İstanbul and the Gün Printing House, where the issues of the newspaper were printed.
When the attorneys reached the central office of the newspaper, there was someone in suit who said that he was an official from the Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF). Although it was alleged that a trustee was appointed to the newspaper, it could not be officially confirmed.
During the raids on March 28 and the house raids on the following days, 33 people from the Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper and Gün Printing House were taken into custody, including the Grant Holder of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi İhsan Yaşar, its Managing Editor İshak Yasul and the owner of Gün Printing House Kasım Zengin.
On April 5, eight people were arrested on charge of "aiding an illegal organization knowingly and willfully as non-members." 12 other people, including the owner of Gün Printing House Kasım Zengin were also arrested on charges of "membership of an illegal organization" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization."
Grant Holder of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper İhsan Yaşar and its Managing Editor İshak Yasul were arrested on charge of "being a member of an illegal organization" and propagandizing for a terrorist organization" on April 6.
Detained during the operation launched on March 28, 20 workers of Gün Printing House were arrested by the court they stood trial.
About Özgürlükçü Demokrasi Newspaper
After Özgür Gündem newspaper was closed on August 16, 2016, Özgürlükçü Gündem newspaper started to be published on August 23, 2016.
Started to be published by Nesrin Media, Publishing and Distribution, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi was recently published and distributed by Engin Media, Publishing Industry and Trade Limited Company.
The newspaper reported the arrests of Özgür Gündem's Executive Editor Zana Kaya and its Editor-in-Chief İnan Kızılkaya in the subheading of its first issue. Kaya and Kızılkaya were arrested on August 22, 2016. Kaya was released on December 29, 2016 and Kızılkaya on November 1, 2017. (BK/TK)