Journalists Timur Soykan and Murat Ağırel were arrested this morning (April 10) at their homes. Following their arrests, the homes of both journalists were raided by authorities.
| Turkey: Journalists from opposition-leaning newspapers arrested |
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| Turkey: Journalists from opposition-leaning newspapers arrested |
Soykan and Ağırel write for BirGün and Cumhuriyet, two of the most well known opposition-leaning newspapers left in Turkish media.
An investigation launched by Istanbul’s Chief Prosecutor accuses the two journalists of ‘threats’ and ‘blackmail’, which reportedly led to their Thursday detention. Both newspapers have dismissed the charges against the journalists as false.
In the home searches following their arrests, authorities confiscated telephones and computers belonging to both journalists.
Soykan and Ağırel will give statements today at the Istanbul courthouse in the city’s Çağlayan neighborhood.
As Soykan was being taken into custody following health checks, he said “The gangs will lose and the public will win!” to several journalists filming at the scene.
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The Journalists” Union of Turkey and Birgün newspaper both released statements Thursday condemning the arrests.
Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
