The International Press Institute (IPI), together with other leading international free expression groups as well as international journalists, today continued observing the trial against journalists and staff of Turkey’s last major critical newspaper.
Extremely important solidarity in Istanbul for #pressfreedom #cumhuriyet17 @EFJEUROPE @ECPMF https://t.co/6CnRTRxidn
— Mogens B. Bjerregård (@mogensbb) July 25, 2017
This morning, international observers joined the colleagues and families of the jailed journalist at Caglayan courthouse in Istanbul as Cumhuriyet Editor-in-Chief Murat Sabuncu was called to testify. Sabuncu, who was asked to defend past headline choices made by Cumhuriyet even prior to his term as editor, echoed yesterday’s testimonies in pointing out that all the evidence presented covered legitimate journalistic work, and denounced what he called the government’s attack on press freedom.
Jailed chief editor at 2nd day of #cumhuriyet17 trial: Journalism has turned into an activity between graveyards and courthouse (in Turkey). https://t.co/T8hiiJGNNG
— Mustafa Yilmaz (@MustafaEdib) July 25, 2017
#MehmetMuratSabuncu: “Journalists should witness history but here they are witnessing for fellow journalists” #cumhuriyet17
— Francois Cormier (@Cormier_press) July 25, 2017
In the afternoon, a lengthy testimony was given by Cumhuriyet board member and lawyer Bülent Utku, who described in-depth the articles used as the basis for the prosecutor’s allegations and slammed the indictments as “lawless”. Noting that Cumhuriyet had “paid a price” for its objectivity and independence, Utku expressed his lack of faith in receiving a fair trial.
#cumhuriyet17: Bülent Utku: “No one can stop the flow of history. Those who stand in the way of democracy will never prevail.”
— ECPMF (@ECPMF) July 25, 2017
The trial resumed in the evening, after a break, with more testimony. First, Cumhuriyet ombudsman Güray Tekin Öz rejected any involvement with the failed 2016 coup d’état or with Gülenists.
#GurayOz: I am the readers’ representative. A readers’ representative cannot influence the editorial policy of the newspaper #Cumhuriyet17
— IPI (@globalfreemedia) July 25, 2017
Long-time Cumhuriyet board member Önder Çelik then addressed the court, rejecting all of the accusations against him.
#ÖnderÇelik: I am now in prison, being accused of changing the editorial policy (of @cumhuriyetgzt) with my colleagues. #Cumhuriyet17
— ECPMF (@ECPMF) July 25, 2017
Last, Mustafa Kemal Güngör, also board member of Turkey’s daily, claimed in his testimony that all financial transactions of Cumhuriyet foundation were completely legal.
Mustafa Kemal Güngor also defends legal financial transactions which “can not be presented as a criminal act.” #cumhuriyet17
— ECPMF (@ECPMF) July 25, 2017
IPI, together with international partners including the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), PEN International and its branches in Norway, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy, and the Netherlands, the European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ and IFJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), has repeatedly called for authorities to release the journalists from prison and for the court to dismiss all charges.
The Cumhuriyet journalists will continue their defence in court tomorrow at 1.30PM. Trial is expected to last until Friday.
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