Journalist Hakan Gülseven Released

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Arrested on June 19, 2018 for not having paid the fine imposed on him, journalist Hakan Gülseven was released last night (June 20) after his friends paid for his fine.

On his Twitter account, Gülseven wrote, “My old friends from ODTÜ (Middle East Technical University) got me out of prison as of tonight. Thanks to them and everyone who acted in solidarity. I will be able to write in detail later”.

Gülseven was sued due to a news article published on Yurt Newspaper, which is owned by former Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Durdu Özbolat, on November 11, 2013, on charge of “insulting civil servant”. He was fined 7 thousand TL (2,800 Euro at the time).

Newspaper’s owner Özbolat didn’t pay the fine imposed on Gülseven and when Gülseven couldn’t pay it either, he was arrested on June 19 upon a warrant issued for him and he was sent to Burhaniye Open Penal Institution.

Hakan Gülseven’s lawyer Deniz İpek had said, “When he couldn’t pay the fine, it was turned to 350 days in prison”.

Gülseven was fined of 7 thousand 80 TL in 2015 for “insulting President Erdoğan” as per Turkish Penal Code Article 125/3. (HA/TK)