Journalist Orhan Released From Prison

Journalist and writer Emin Orhan who was detained and arrested following a house raid conducted by the police in Turkey's western port city of Izmir was released from prison on July 29. Orhan was held at the Kiriklar F Type prison for the past weeks.

Orhan, who writes for the left-wing Atilim newspaper, was detained together with ten alleged members of the Socialist Youth Association (SGD) on July 13 and remanded in custody. The Istanbul High Criminal Court ordered his release after taking his statement.

TGDP: Release reflects arbitrary practice

Greeting the release as a positive development, Turkey's Platform of Solidarity with Journalists Under Arrest (TGDP) recalled that there were currently eight more journalists in prison in Turkey.

Stating that Orhan had been placed under arrest despite the lack of any serious allegation and condemning this, the TGDP said his release reflected the ongoing arbitrary practice.

The platform identified Memik Horuz, Erol Zavar, Hatice Duman, Mustafa Gok, Evrim Dengiz, Nesrin Yazar, Baris Acikel and Rustu Demirkaya as journalists still under arrest. (EO/TK/II/YE)