Weekly Summary

Two journalists were arrested in the latest developments in the investigation launched into the July 15 coup attempt; bringing the number of journalists arrested in the coup probe to 53. Together with two other arrests occurring outside the coup probe, the number of imprisoned journalists in Turkey has reached 97 as of Aug. 26.  P24 recently obtained and now confirmed information regarding the coup-attempt related arrests of seven other journalists – all former Zaman staff – who were sent to prison over the past weeks but their cases were never reported. With their names added to the list, total number of journalists under arrest in Turkey reaches 104.

Former public prosecutor and journalist Gültekin Avcı, who has been wanted in the post-coup investigation, was captured in the basement of a residential building in İzmir Karabağlar district and arrested on charges of “membership in an armed organization” on Aug. 16.

Another journalist recently put under arrest was Fox TV News Editor Ercan Gün, who was arrested on Aug. 25. Earlier, Gün had been detained but later released as part of coup probe. His latest arrest comes as part of an investigation into the 2007 murder of journalist Hrant Dink. The investigation into Dink’s murder is not directly part of the coup probe, but it is related to the general investigation into Fethullah Gülen’s supporters as government officials claim Gülenists involvement in Dink’s assassination.

Investigations outside coup probe

Eren Keskin, a lawyer, human rights activist and a former editor-in-chief of the Özgür Gündem daily, which was temporarily shut down on Aug. 16 by court order, was released on Aug. 25 after being referred to a court by prosecutors. Keskin’s home was raided on Aug. 16, but she came to testify to the courthouse of her own accord, although she said she hadn’t been formally called to testify. Keskin was let go with an international flight ban.

In her court testimony, Keskin stated that she wrote in Özgür Gündem to create awareness of rampant violence against women and murders of women at the hands of men in Turkey and the country’s unsolved murders, most of which are believed to be politically motivated killings.

On August 26, Dicle News Agency (DİHA) reporter Erdem Mühirci and Kurdish newspaper Azadiya Welat journalist Ali Aşikar were arrested on terror-related charges by a Van court.

DİHA journalist Sebahattin Koyuncu, who was detained in Şırnak’s Silopi province on Aug. 23, was released on Aug. 26.

On August 23, two journalists, Cemil Uğur from Evrensel and freelancer Halil Polat, were detained in Mersin for supporting a campaign titled “Freedom Watch” organized in support of the PKK’s imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan.

In another development, a detention warrant was issued for journalist Ergun Babahan over a social media tweet he posted after an armed attack on a convoy carrying Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.

Prison visit from P24

On Aug. 24, Lawyer Veysel Ok visited former Zaman columnist Lale Kemal and Özgür Gündem columnist Aslı Erdoğan in Bakırköy Prison on behalf of P24’s Legal Unit. Erdoğan and Kemal shared information on their health condition and related issues arising from their prolonged imprisonment.

Press Bans

Hundreds of newspapers have so far been shut down under Turkey’s State of Emergency, declared on July 20. In the latest such move, the government shut down Özgür Gündem, accusing the newspaper of conducting terror propaganda. In a related development, the 9th Criminal Judicature of Peace on Aug. 26 ordered a special issue by the Atılım newspaper published in support of Özgür Gündem pulled from shelves. The ruling applies to future special editions that might have similar content.

According to media reports from Aug. 27, a total of 29 TV stations broadcasting without proper licensing were shut down by the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTÜK) while two others, VanTV and Özgür Gün TV, were issued fines for praising terrorism and broadcasting material that is discriminatory.

Last known legal status of journalists for whom detention warrants have been issued as part of post-coup probe

Abdullah Abdulkadiroğlu, Samanyolu TV, Left the country according to AA
Abdullah Katırcıoğlu, In custody
Abdullah Kılıç, Meydan Gazetesi  columnist, Under arrest
Abdullah Özyurt, local Adana journalist, Under arrest
Adil Gülçek, Former Cihan Medya Director
Ahmet Dönmez, Former Zaman reporter, Left the country according to AA
Ahmet Memiş, Haberdar, Under arrest
Ahmet Metin Sekizkardeş, Vice President of Cihan Media Executive Board, Under arrest
Ahmet Turan Alkan, Former Zaman columnist, Under arrest
Ahmet Yavaş, TRT (Erzurum), Under arrest
Alaattin Güner, Former Cihan Medya Director, Under arrest Alaattin Kaya, former owner to Zaman’s rights, Under arrest
Ali Akbulut, owner of Zaman’s rights, formerly
Ali Akkuş, Former Zaman General Publications Editor, Under arrest
Ali Bulaç ,Former Zaman columnist, Under arrest
Ali Ünal, Zaman columnist, Under arrest
Arda Akın, Hürriyet reporter, Released on probation
Arzu Yıldız, Haberdar Ankara Bureau Chief
Ayşe Nazlı Ilıcak, Yarına Bakış, Under arrest
Aytekin Gezici, Under arrest
Ayşenur Parıldak, former Zaman correspondent, Under arrest Aziz İstegün, former Zaman Diyarbakır regional representative,  Under arrest
Bayram Kaya, Zaman, Yeni Hayat reporter, Under arrest
Behçet Akyar
Bertan Golal, TRT İstanbul, In custody
Bilal Şahin, Özgür Düşünce, Left the country according to AA
Bülent Ceyhan, Özgür Düşünce reporter, Left the country according to AA
Bülent Keneş, Former Today’s Zaman Editor-in-Chief
Bülent Korucu, Former Zaman columnist
Bülent Mumay, Former Hürriyet Digital Publications Coordinator, Released by court order
Bünyamin Köseli, Former Aksiyon reporter, Under arrest
Cemal Azmi Kalyoncu, Under arrest
Cevheri Güven, Nokta Magazine Editor-in-Chief
Cihan Acar, Former Bugün reporter, Under arrest
Cuma Kaya, Under arrest
Cuma Ulus, Former Publications Coordinator for Millet daily, Under arrest
Cumali Önal, Former Zaman editor in charge of Arabic publications, Under arrest
Emre Koçali, Haberdar, In custody
Emre Soncan, Former Zaman Defense Reporter, Under arrest
Ercan Gün, Fox TV News Editor, Under arrest (as part of Hrant Dink murder investigation)
Erkan Akkuş, Former Bugün TV Anchor
Erkan Büyük, Haberdar, In custody
Ertuğrul Erbaş, Former Nokta Magazine Editor
Faruk Akkan, Cihan Ajansı, Under arrest
Faruk Kardıç
Fatih Akalan, Samanyolu Haber Tv commentator, Left the country according to AA
Fatih Yağmur, Former Radikal reporter, Left the country according to AA
Fevzi Yazıcı, Zaman Visual Director (formerly), Under arrest Gültekin Avcı, Under arrest
Habip Güler, Former Zaman reporter, Under arrest
Hakan Bülent Yardımcı, In custody
Hakan Taşdelen, Under arrest
Halil İbrahim Mert, TRT (Erzurum), Under arrest
Hamit Bilici, Former Zaman Editor-in-Chief
Hamit Çiçek
Hanım Büşra Erdal, Former Zaman reporter and  columnist, Under arrest
Haşim Söylemez, Former Aksiyon Magazine columnist, Under arrest
Hilmi Yavuz, Former Zaman  columnist, Released due to poor health, will testify at a later time
Hüseyin Aydın, Cihan reporter, Under arrest
Hüseyin Döğme
Hüseyin Turan, Partner in Feza Group (owners of Zaman), Under arrest
İbrahim Balta, Former Zaman Business Editor, Under arrest
İhsan Duran Dağı, Former Zaman  columnist, Released by prosecutor without court referral
İsi Siyi, Haberdar, In custody
Kamil Maman, Former Bugün reporter, Left the country according to AA
Kerim Gün, Former Zaman Editor
Lalezar Sarıibrahimoğlu (Lale Kemal), Former Zaman columnist, Under arrest
Levent Kenez, Meydan Gazetesi Editor-in-Chief
Lokman Erdoğan, Çorum Manşet (local newspaper), In custody
Mahmut Hazar, Cihan News Agency, Left the country according to AA
Mehmet Akif Afşar
Mehmet Gündem, Former Milliyet columnist, Released by court order
Mehmet Kamış, Former Zaman columnist Mehmet Kuru, Former Zaman Eskişehir reporter, Under arrest
Mehmet Özdemir, Under arrest
Melih Kılıç, Zaman Media Group Sales Department
Metin Tamer Gökçeoğlu
Metin Yıkar, Samanyolu Haber
Muhammed Fatih Uğur, Former Zaman News Manager
Murat Avcıoğlu, Under arrest
Mustafa Erkan Acar, Cihan News Agency, Under arrest
Mustafa Ünal, Under arrest
Mümtaz'er Türköne, Former Zaman columnist, Under arrest
Mürsel Genç, Former Cihan reporter
Nevzat Güner
Nuri Durna, TRT (Ezurum), Under arrest
Nuriye Ural (Akman), Former Zaman columnist, Under arrest Nurullah Kaya, former Zaman Gaziantep regional representative, Under arrest
Oktay Vızvız,
Olgun Matur, Local Antalya journalist, Under arrest
Osman Nuri Arslan, Partner in finance company FIA, Released on probation
Osman Nuri Öztürk, Released on probation Osman Yakut, Former Zaman Antalya reporter ,  Under arrest
Ömer Karakaş
Özcan Keser,  TRT İstanbul, In custody, Özkan Mayda, Former Zaman Antalya reporter ,  Under arrest Resul Cengiz, former Zaman Denizli reporter,  Under arrest
Rıfat Söylemez, Adana Günaydın (local newspaper), In custody
Sait Sefa, Haberdar
Sedat Yetişkin
Selahattin Sevi, Former Zaman Photograpy Coordinator, Left the country according to AA
Sevgi Akarçeşme, Former Today’s Zaman Editor-in-Chief
Seyid Kılıç, Former TRT reporter, Under arrest
Süleyman Sargın
Şahin Alpay, Former Zaman columnist, Under arrest
Şenol Kahraman
Şeref Yılmaz, Irmak TV, Under arrest
Taner Talaş, Adana Yerel, In custody
Tuncer Çetinkaya, Zaman Antalya, Under arrest
Turan Görüryılmaz, Can Erzincan TV anchor, Left the country according to AA
Ufuk Emin Köroğlu, Karşı Gazete reporter, Left the country according to AA
Ufuk Şanlı, Former Vatan columnist, Under arrest Vahit Yazgan, former Zaman İzmir regional representative,  Under arrest
Veysel Ayhan
Yakup Çetin, Former Zaman reporter, Under arrest
Yakup Sağlam, Former Samanyolu reporter, Released on probation Yakup Şimşek, Zaman newspaper marketing professional, Under arrest
Yalçın Güler, TRT (Erzurum), Under arrest
Yüksel Durgut
Yüksel Evsen, Adana local journalist, In custody
Zafer Özsoy, Under arrest
Zeki Önal, Not taken into custody due to advanced age and illness; his home was searched

Journalists detained under State of Emergency outside coup probe

Selami Aslan – DİHA, Released

Mehmet Sıddık Damar – DİHA, Released

Esra Aydın – JİNHA, Released

Geylan Arslan – JİNHA, Released

Nizamettin Yılmaz – Azadiya Welat, In custody

İdris Yılmaz – DİHA, In custody

Selman Keleş – DİHA, In custody

Hasan Akbaş – Evrensel, Released

Fırat Topal – Evrensel, Released

Serpil Berk – Evrensel, Released

Sertaç Kayar – Freelance journalist, Released

Engin Eren – DİHA, Released

Fatma Edemen – ETHA, Released

Zana Kaya – Özgür Gündem, In custody

Günay Aksoy – Özgür Gündem, Released

Kemal Bozkurt – Özgür Gündem, Released

Reyhan Hacıoğlu – Özgür Gündem, Released

Önder Elaldı – Özgür Gündem, Released

Ender Önder – Özgür Gündem, Released

Sinan Balık – Özgür Gündem, Released

Fırat Yeşilçınar – Özgür Gündem, Released

İnan Kızılkaya – Özgür Gündem, In custody

Özgür Paksoy – DİHA muhabiri, Released

Zeki Erden – Özgür Gündem, Released

Elif Aydoğmuş – Özgür Gündem, Released

Ersin Çaksu – Özgür Gündem, Released

Mesut Kaynar – DİHA, Released

Sevdiye Gürbüz – Özgür Gündem, Released

Amine Demirkıran – Özgür Gündem, Released

Bayram Balcı – Özgür Gündem, Released

Burcu Özkaya – Özgür Gündem, Released

Yılmaz Bozkurt – İstanbul Tabip Odası Basın Bürosu, Released 

Gülfem Karataş – İMC TV, Released

Gökhan Çetin – İMC TV, Released

Hüseyin Gündüz – Doğu Publishing House, Released

Halil Polat – DİHA, In custody

Erdem Mühirci – DİHA, In custody 

Sabahattin Koyuncu – DİHA, Released

Journalists known to have been arrested during State of Emergency outside coup probe

Zeynel Abidin Bulut – Azadiya Welat, Under arrest

Zehra Doğan – JİNHA, Under arrest 

Hülya Karakaya – Özgür Halk, Under arrest

Mehmet Arslan – DİHA, Under arrest

Lindsey Snell – Freelance journalist, Under arrest

Şermin Soydan – DİHA (arrested before the declaration of the State of Emergency), Under arrest

Metin Bekiroğlu –  DİHA, Under arrest

Aslı Erdoğan – Özgür Gündem, Under arrest

Zana Kaya – Özgür Gündem, Under arrest

İnan Kızılkaya – Özgür Gündem, Under arrest

Erdem Mühirci – DİHA, Under arrest

Ali Aşikar – Azadiya Welat, Under arrest

List of media outlets shut down under State of Emergency decrees

TV Stations: Barış TV, Bugün TV, Can Erzincan TV, Dünya TV, Hira TV, Irmak TV, Kanal 124, Kanaltürk, MC TV, Mehtap TV, Merkür TV, Samanyolu Haber, Samanyolu TV, SRT TV, Tuna Shopping TV, Yumurcak TV.

News Agencies: Cihan Haber Ajansı, Muhabir Haber Ajansı and  SEM Haber Ajansı

Newspapers: Adana Haber, Adana Medya, Akdeniz Türk, Şuhut’un Sesi, Kurtuluş, Lider, İscehisar, Durum, Türkeli, Antalya, Yerel Bakış, Nazar, Batman, Batman Postası, Batman Doğuş, Bingöl Olay, İrade, İskenderun Olay, Ekonomi, Ege’de Son Söz, Demokrat Gebze, Kocaeli Manşet, Bizim Kocaeli, Haber Kütahya, Gediz, Zafer, Hisar, Turgutlu Havadis, Milas Feza, Türkiye’de Yeni Yıldız, Hakikat, Urfa Haber Ajansı, Ajans 11, Yeni Emek, Banaz Postası, Son Nokta, Merkür Haber, Millet, Bugün, Meydan, Özgür Düşünce, Taraf, Yarına Bakış, Yeni Hayat, Zaman, Today’s Zaman, Özgür Gündem.

Magazines: Akademik Araştırmalar, Aksiyon, Asya Pasifik, Bisiklet Çocuk, Diyalog, Avrasya, Ekolife, Ekoloji, Fountain, Gonca, Gül Yaprağı, Nokta, Sızıntı, Yağmur, Yeni Ümit, Zirve.

Radio stations: Aksaray Mavi, Aktüel, Berfin, Burç, Cihan, Dünya, Esra, Haber Radyo Ege, Herkül, Jest, Kanaltürk, Radyo 59, Radyo Aile Rehberi, Radyo Bamteli, Radyo Cihan, Radyo Fıkıh, Radyo Küre, Radyo Mehtap, Radyo Nur, Radyo Şemşik, Samanyolu Haber, Umut, Yağmur.

Publishing houses: Altınburç, Burak Basın Yayın Dağıtım, Define, Dolunay Eğitim Yayın Dağıtım, Giresun Basın Yayın Dağıtım, Gonca, Gülyurdu, GYV, Işık Akademi, Işık Özel Eğitim, İklim Basın Yayın Pazarlama, Kaydırak, Kaynak, Kervan Basın Yayıncılık, Kuşak, Muştu, Nil, Rehber, Sürat Basım Yayın Reklamcılık Eğitim Araçları, Sütun, Şahdamar, Ufuk Basın Yayın Haber Ajans Pazarlama, Ufuk, Waşanxaneya Nil, Yay Basın Dağıtım, Yeni Akademi, Yitik Hazine, Zambak Basın Yayın Eğitim Turizm

*Glossary of legal terms used in this text

Detain / Place in custody: To hold in police custody for police interrogation first, and later for testimony to a prosecutor. Might lead to a court appearance depending on the action taken by the prosecutor. 

Arrest: To put into prison indefinitely – by court order – pending trial. 

Released on probation: Released with an international flight ban issued. Usually entails checking in regularly with a designated police station. 

These lists have been compiled by P24 editors from open news sources and will be updated regularly. Journalists who want to report developments about themselves or their colleagues can contact us at punto24info@gmail.com