TURKEY-MEDIA/DETENTION Turkey keeps media executive in custody on terrorism charge

Record ID: 858826

  • Title: TURKEY-MEDIA/DETENTION Turkey keeps media executive in custody on terrorism charge
  • Date: 19th December 2014
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (DECEMBER 19, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) SUPPORTER OF U.S. CLERIC FETHULLAH GULEN, AHMET EKINCI, SAYING "We are of course very sad. For days, people have been waiting here in silence. We wished that our brother Hidayet would be released as well, but he knows that our prayers are with him." (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) SUPPORTER OF U.S. CLERIC FETHULLAH GULEN, MEHMET KARAHAN IKINCI, SAYING "These people have not even harmed an ant in their entire lives. They always respected God and the laws. We believe that it is a violation of human rights, democracy and law to bring in these people with farce evidences based on tv shows and scenarios and accuse them, portraying the freedom of expression and art, as a terrorist act."
  • Embargoed: 3rd January 2015 12:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAE98IWII3ZSKFAJVC1KHH1JR16
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  • Story Text: A Turkish court kept a media executive and three other people in custody on Friday (December 19) pending trial on accusations of belonging to a terrorist group, in a case which President Tayyip Erdogan has defended as a response to "dirty operations" by his enemies.
    Hidayet Karaca heads Samanyolu Television which is close to the president's ally-turned foe Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based Muslim cleric. Erdogan accuses Gulen of seeking to topple him through supporters in the judiciary and police.
    The European Union, which Turkey is seeking to join, has said last weekend's police raids to detain Karaca and other media workers was contrary to European values but Erdogan told the bloc to mind its own business.
    Ekrem Dumanli, editor-in-chief of the Gulen-linked Zaman newspaper, was released but forbidden from travelling abroad before trial. He told a crowd which had gathered to support those arrested, the reason he believed he had been held.
    "We testified to the prosecutors all night long. In the end, I asked the prosecutor- the reason for the treatment that we are exposed to for days is these two articles and a news story? He said 'yes'."
    Seven more people whom prosecutors sought remanded in custody in the case were also released pending trial.
    Supporters who gathered outside the Justice Palace in Istanbul made their grievances known.
    "These people have not even harmed an ant in their entire lives. They always respected God and the laws. We believe that it is a violation of human rights, democracy and law to bring in these people with farce evidences based on tv shows and scenarios and accuse them, portraying the freedom of expression and art, as a terrorist act," said Mehmey Karahan Ikinci, a supporter of U.S Cleric Fethullah Gulen.
    "We are of course very sad. For days, people have been waiting here in silence. We wished that our brother Hidayet would be released as well, but he knows that our prayers are with him," said another supporter, Ahmet Ekinci.
    Erdogan and Gulen have been in open conflict since a corruption probe targeting Erdogan's inner circle a year ago, which Erdogan blamed on Gulen. The cleric denies involvement.
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