Journalist from Austria Max Zirngast Arrested

* Photograph: freemaxzirngast / twitter

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Max Zirngast, who is a journalist from Austria, and Mithatcan Türetken and Hatice Göz, who are members of the Social Freedom Party Constituent Assembly, have been arrested after being detained for 10 days.

Zirngast, Türetken and Göz were taken into custody by anti-terror forces in the capital city of Ankara early in the morning on September 11 on charge of "being members of an armed terrorist organization." Their period of detention was extended for four days twice.

After being interrogated, they were referred to court yesterday. They stated that the charges pressed against them were false.

The court has ruled that Max Zirngast, Mithatcan Türetken and Hatice Göz shall be arrested on charge of "being members of a terrorist organization" on the ground that "there is strong evidence pointing to strong criminal suspicion regarding the committal of the offence; the offence in question requires heavy penalty; the investigation has not been completed; all evidences have not been collected; and there is a possibility of escape."

In the wake of court's verdict of arrest, the re:volt magazine, for which Max Zirngast has been working, posted a message on the Twitter account opened in solidarity with Zirngast. In the message, it has been stated, "Our campaign of solidarity is becoming all the more important."

"I have almost 300 books in my house"

In his interrogation at the Prosecutor's Office, Max Zirngast told that he has almost 300 books in his house. Stating that he has both left- and right-oriented publications, he said,

"There are literature and art publications among them; I am an investigative scientist. But, the police officers took only the books that are left-oriented.

"I am writing articles about current affairs in the Social Freedom (Toplumsal Özgürlük) Newspaper. I do not have a connection with any terrorist organizations. I did not engage in any illegal activities."

"I am a socialist person"

In his interrogation at the Ankara 4th Penal Judgeship of Peace, Zirngast said, "I am a socialist person. I defend international values."

Stating that he has been living in Turkey for three years and did not engage in any secret activities, Zirngast stated, "I did not undertake any activities in the name of any illegal organizations." (BK/SD)