Journalists from Sweden call for Ahmet Altan’s release

* Photo: Flickr

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

17 journalism and literature organizations from Sweden, along with the chief culture editors of some newspapers, have released a written statement and called for the release of writer-journalist Ahmet Altan.

The statement has been published in Sweden's Expressen, Dagens Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet newspapers as well as on Journalisten, the media outlet of Journalists' Federation of Sweden.

Defining the courts in Turkey as "kafkaesque", the statement has reminded the international community that President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) controls over 95 percent of Turkey's media, adding that "Turkey has been the biggest jailer of journalists in the last few years."

Arrested in Silivri Prison at the outskirts of İstanbul, Ahmet Altan's book "I will Never See the World Again" has recently been published in Swedish.

'Arbitrary detentions now a part of daily life'

In their statement, the journalists have noted that after the failed miliatary coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016, President Erdoğan has amassed the legislative, judicial and executive powers.

Referring to Selahattin Demirtaş, the arrested former Co-Chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), the journalists have said:

"Since the fall of 2016, politicians elected by the people, including pro-Kurdish HDP's former Presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtaş, have been in prison due to their opinions."

Noting that "the arbitrary mass dismissal and detention of people for thinking differently or dissenting is now a part of daily life," the journalists have said that "one of the people paying a heavy price is Ahmet Altan, who has been imprisoned in a 4-squaremeter cell in Silivri Prison."

"He was caught and arrested right after the coup attempt and served over three years behind bars. Ahmet Altan has been constantly dismissing the allegations against himself and no evidence can be found as to the 'offenses' charged against him," the statement has read.

'You cannot imprison free thought"

Referring to the literary career of Altan, the statement has noted that "he has been one of the most influential, respectable and widely-read writers of Turkey and his books have been published in 23 countries."

Indicating that "the Erdoğan regime" has imprisoned Ahmet Altan in an attempt to "silence this independent and powerful voice," the journalists have also expressed their concerns about the 70-year-old imprisoned writer's health in prison amid the novel coronavirus pandemic:

"The lawyer of Ahmet Altan, in early January, announced that the COVID-19 outbreak spread in the section of the prison where Altan is held. In that case, his situation is highly serious; we are worried about his life."

Against this backdrop, the Swedish journalists have requested that writer and journalist Ahmet Altan be released from prison.

"As he is imprisoned upon Erdoğan's order, we would like to convey our open and clear message to the President of Turkey: You can imprison imprison people who think differently or dissent for absurd/ridiculous, kafkaesque reasons; but you can never imprison free thought!"

The undersigned

Kristina Ahlinder, Executive Director of the Swedish Publishers Association
Robert Aschberg, President of the Swedish National Press Club
Kurdo Baksi, Writer
Jesper Bengtsson, President of the Swedish PEN
Anders Q Björkman, Svenska Dagbladet Newspaper Culture Chief Asst.
Helena Giertta, Editor in Chief of the Journalisten newspaper
Erik Halkjaer, Head of Reporters Without Borders
Ulrika Hyllert, President of the Federation of Journalists
Lisa Irenius, Head of Culture, Svenska Dagbladet newspaper
Oal Larsmo, Author and Board Member of the PEN International
Martin Kaunitz, publisher of Ahmet Altan in Sweden,
Jesper Monthán President of the Swedish Publishers Association
Karin Olsson, Chief of Culture, Expressen newspaper
Nalin Pekgul, Former Member of Parliament and Nurse
Karin Pettersson, Aftonbladet Newspaper Culture Chief
Grethe Rottböll, President of the Swedish Writers Union
Björn Wiman, Chief of Culture of Dagens Nyheter newspaper

Ahmet Altan's trial

Ahmet Altan was first detained on September 1, 2016, in an investigation into the failed coup attempt in July.

On September 23, 2016, he was remanded in custody for "being a member of an armed terrorist organization and attempting to overthrow the government of Turkey or to prevent it from fulfilling its duties."

He was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for "attempting to overthrow the constitutional order" in February 2018 because of three of his articles published before the coup attempt.

The 2nd Penal Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice (the appeals court) rejected Altan's appeals and ruled for the continuation of his imprisonment.

The 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation overturned the verdict in July 2019 and ruled that Altan should stand trial not for "attempted overthrow of the constitutional order" but "knowingly and willingly aiding a terrorist organization despite not being included in the hierarchical structure in the organization."

In line with the high court's decision, the İstanbul 26th Heavy Penal Court sentenced Altan to 10 years and 6 months for this crime on November 4, 2019. It ruled for his release considering the time he served in prison.

On November 6, 2019, the prosecutor's office appealed his release. After the court's rejection, the appeal was sent to the İstanbul 27th Heavy Penal Court, which accepted the request and ruled that Altan should be arrested again.

Altan was sent to prison again on November 13.

(TP/SD)