CPJ Blog

By Özgür Öğret/CPJ Turkey Representative

Prosecutors interrogate two journalists regarding Özgür Gündem coverage
Prosecutor's at Istanbul's Çağlayan Courthouse yesterday interrogated Hüseyin Aykol, a former editor of the shuttered pro-Kurdish newspaper Özgür Gündem, and Derya Okatan, an Özgür Radio journalist who was one of dozens of journalists and activists who symbolically acted as co-editor of the newspaper to protest authorities' persistent judicial harassment of the newspaper before a court ordered it closed on August 16, the press freedom monitor Ben Gazeteciyim ("I am a journalist") reported. Prosecutors have charged other newspaper staff and participants in the solidarity campaign with propagandizing for a terrorist organization, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

By Peter Nkanga/CPJ West Africa Representative

Since Nigeria's cybercrime act was voted into law in May 2015 authorities have used the accusation of cyber stalking to harass and press charges against at least five bloggers who criticized politicians and businessmen online and through social media.

By Andrew Downie/CPJ Brazil Correspondent

Felipe Souza was covering an anti-government protest in São Paulo earlier this month when a line of riot police advanced toward him.

By Nina Ognianova/CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator

The Committee to Protect Journalists, along with the Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders, today wrote a joint letter to Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Đukanović protesting the 11-month pretrial detention of freelance journalist Jovo Martinović, who has been accused of participating in a drug trafficking ring--an accusation he has denied and which the prosecution has failed to substantiate with evidence.

By Özgür Öğret/CPJ Turkey Representative

Taraf chief editor detained hours after release

Hours after his release from prison, the writer and journalist Ahmet Altan was detained again. Altan turned himself in late last night and was arrested after hearing that he was wanted by authorities, according to reports. According to a report in the daily, Hürriyet, the prosecution objected to Altan's release under judicial control and argued that as the founding chief editor of the daily, Taraf, the journalist was a part of the FETÖ/PDY organization. The court ordered the journalist to be detained again under accusations of "attempting to eliminate the government of the Republic of Turkey or to prevent it from its duties" and "being member of a [terrorist] organization." Despite some pro-government media reports on Altan being detained while on the run, other reports and accounts on social media said the journalist turned himself in. Both Altan brothers, Ahmet and Mehmet are at Silivri Prison in Istanbul, pending trial

CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova today testified before the Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats Subcommittee of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, at the hearing, "Turkey after the July Coup Attempt."

By Siamak Ghaderi /CPJ Middle East and North Africa Advisory Group Member

The Iranian government will address the United Nation's General Assembly this month for the last time before President Hassan Rouhani seeks re-election next year. The international appearance would be a good chance for Rouhani's administration to discuss its record in office.

By Özgür Öğret/CPJ Turkey Representative

Eid holiday leaves detained writers in legal limbo, lawyers say
Veysel Ok and Ergin Cinmen, lawyers for Mehmet and Ahmet Altan, two prominent writers detained four days ago, yesterday made a joint statement saying that because of the Eid holiday they could not find the responsible prosecutor or a court in which to appeal their clients' detention.

They called the charges against the brothers - sending "subliminal messages" about the July 15 failed military coup in their writings before the fact - "unserious."

[September 13, 2016]

By Özgür Öğret/CPJ Turkey Representative

Police raid Kurdish magazine office
Police raided Istanbul office of the pro-Kurdish magazine Özgür Halk today, the pro-Kurdish Dicle News Agency (DİHA) reported. DİHA reported that the raid, which was in progress at the time of publication, was related to the magazine's feature commemorating August 15, the date the banned Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) took up arms against the state. Police in the Mediterranean city of İzmir raided the magazine's office there on September 5 and arrested magazine staffer Rabia Özkaya.

By Jan-Albert Hootsen/CPJ Mexico Correspondent

Sergio Aguayo, one of Mexico's most prominent political commentators, said he was taken by surprise when he heard he was being sued for "moral damages." The plaintiff, Humberto Moreira, is a former governor who faced allegations that he severely mishandled the state's finances, was involved in graft and corruption, and had ties to organized crime. He has always denied allegations against him, both when in office and after he resigned to become the president of the Institutional Revolutionary Party.