Imprisoned Journalist Gürsel Nominated for UNESCO Press Freedom Prize

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The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has nominated Kadri Gürsel, who is a Cumhuriyet newspaper columnist and its editorial consultant and that has been arrested as part of an investigation launched into Cumuriyet newspaper, as a candidate for UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.

The same prize was granted to journalist Ahmet Şık in 2014. Şık, who was tried in Oda TV case when he was given the prize, is now arrested on the charge of being a member of Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ). The Oda TV trial is ongoing.

Gürsel has been in prison for 117 days, Şık for 56 days

Kadri Gürsel was arrested along with Cumhuriyet newspaper Editor-in-Chief Murat Sabuncu, caricaturist Musa Kart, Cumhuriyet Foundation Board members Önder Çelik, Bülent Utku, Mustafa Kemal Güngör, Güray Öz, Hakan Kara and Book Review Supplement Editor-in-Chief Turhan Günay on November 5, 2016.

Gürsel was charged with “Carrying out activities on behalf of FETÖ/PDY and PKK/KCK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party/Kurdistan Communities Union)”.

Şık was arrested on December 30, 2016 on charge of “propagandizing for FETÖ and PKK”.

Kadri Gürsel has been in prison for 117 days and Ahmet Şık for 56 days. (EA/TK)