Released from prison after five months behind bars, journalist Reyhan Hacıoğlu said that the free press has an even greater role now and that she will continue doing her work.
Journalists Necla Demir, Rahime Karvar, Ahmet Güneş, Welat Ekin, Vedat Örüç and Reyhan Hacıoğlu, who were detained in house raids on January 17 as part of an Istanbul-based investigation, were imprisoned on charges of “membership in an illegal organization”, referring to the PKK.
Reyhan Hacıoğlu, who was detained in a raid on her house in Van, was imprisoned on January 21 and released from Type T Prison in Van on Friday, June 13.
The journalist was welcomed with flowers by members of the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG), the Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association (MKG), the Association for Solidarity with Prisoners' Families (TUHAY-DER), the Association for Solidarity with Those Who Lost Their Relatives in the Cradle of Civilizations (MEBYA-DER), as well as many others.
Reyhan Hacıoğlu gave a brief statement and said, “I do not see today’s release as freedom. If we consider this freedom, it would be unfair to the others who remain behind bars. This has been a process of hostage-taking. The free press is always targeted in this way. This is how we see and interpret it. Yes, a process is unfolding, and it is one that further strengthens our position. We will continue to write until everyone fighting for a better country is released. The responsibility of the free press grows even more during this period. I will continue my job as a journalist from where I left off.”
