RSF called for cancellation of arrest warrant of Kurdish journalist
RSF called for cancellation of arrest warrant of Kurdish journalist
Reporters Without Borders called on the appeal court in Diyarbakir to cancel the arrest warrant against Emin Demir, former editor of Kurdish Azadiya Welat who was sentenced to 138 years in prison.
The organization said that RSF is expecting the appeal court to reject the iniquitous and disproportionate sentence against the journalist.
Demir, aged 24, was charged with supporting the cause of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The court issued a warrant for her arrest since she did not attend the hearing.
The newspaper Azadyia Welat has already been suspended eight times by the Turkish justice system. At least nine of its journalists are currently in prison, including two other former editors, sentenced on similar charges to those against Demir, to unbelievable sentences. Vedat Kursun was sentenced on 13 May 2010 to 166 years in prison. Ozan Kilinç was sentenced in his absence on 9 February to 2010 to 21 years in prison. He was also stripped of his civic rights. The three ex editors have now been sentenced to a total of 325 years in prison between them.
This judicial harassment of the countrys sole Kurdish-language newspaper contrasts with political statements in support of openness towards the Kurdish minority that have been made since 2009. The Kurdish question remains taboo and is used as a pretext for legal proceedings against too many media and journalists in Turkey the statement read.
The organisation also repeated its call for amendments to the anti-terror law and for the release of Berivan Eker, Bedri Adanir, Vedat Kursun, Ozan Kilinç and all the other journalists imprisoned under this law for their work as journalists.
The organization said that RSF is expecting the appeal court to reject the iniquitous and disproportionate sentence against the journalist.
Demir, aged 24, was charged with supporting the cause of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The court issued a warrant for her arrest since she did not attend the hearing.
The newspaper Azadyia Welat has already been suspended eight times by the Turkish justice system. At least nine of its journalists are currently in prison, including two other former editors, sentenced on similar charges to those against Demir, to unbelievable sentences. Vedat Kursun was sentenced on 13 May 2010 to 166 years in prison. Ozan Kilinç was sentenced in his absence on 9 February to 2010 to 21 years in prison. He was also stripped of his civic rights. The three ex editors have now been sentenced to a total of 325 years in prison between them.
This judicial harassment of the countrys sole Kurdish-language newspaper contrasts with political statements in support of openness towards the Kurdish minority that have been made since 2009. The Kurdish question remains taboo and is used as a pretext for legal proceedings against too many media and journalists in Turkey the statement read.
The organisation also repeated its call for amendments to the anti-terror law and for the release of Berivan Eker, Bedri Adanir, Vedat Kursun, Ozan Kilinç and all the other journalists imprisoned under this law for their work as journalists.
