Journalist Frederike Geerdink Detained in Yüksekova

Dutch journalist Frederike Geerdink who is living in Diyarbakır province, in southeastern Turkey, and working on Kurdish question was detained in Yüksekova district of Hakkari province in eastern Turkey.

Geerdink announced she was detained with Canlı Kalkan Grubu (Human Shield Group) in Yüksekova district via her twitter account.

Geerdink indicated so many people were detained that taking testimonies of them could take time.

Netherlands Association of Journalists: It is unacceptable

According to ANP News Agency of Holland, embassy of the Netherlands in Ankara follows the case closely.

According to Radikal Newspaper, Thomas Bruning, Netherlands Association of Journalists General Secretary told ANP:

"It is unacceptable for journalists of foreign origin like Frederike Geerdink to be detained.

“This situation is annoying for Turkey’s media. Freedom of press doesn’t gain recognition in countries like Turkey. Turkey’s government meddles with works of journalists and tries to prevent journalists of foreign origin from doing their jobs bravely. More precisely, these journalists are accused of doing their jobs. It is impossible to accept that.” 

Geerdink had been detained in Turkey before

Geerdink had been accused of “making propaganda of an illegal organization,” and was detained in January 2015.

Diyarbakır 6th High Criminal Court acquited Dutch journalist Frederike Geerdink, of trial for “illegal organization propaganda” in three of her articles and her social media posts, in April 2015.

Lawyer Sarya Özcan told bianet that detention period of journalist and detainees was extended and Geerdink would be put on trial tomorrow.

Reporters without Borders (RSF) reacted to the detention of Geerdink.

RSF called for Turkey’s government to give up oppression against foreign journalists in Turkey and reminded Vice News journalists were arrested a few days earlier.

Johann Bihr, the head of the RSF's Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk, said that detention of Geerdnik was a threatening message against foreign press members and it was unacceptable. Bihr reminded Geerdink was working on Kurdish question for years and the journalist should be released immediately.(BK/EA/BD)

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