ISTANBUL - Detained journalist Sezgin Kartal was referred to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a request for arrest, following the statements made at the prosecutor's office.

 

Alevi organizations made a statement in front of the courthouse for journalist Sezgin Kartal, who was detained in a police raid on his house on January 10 and was brought to the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan for testimony. Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Serpil Kemalbay, many journalists, representatives of political parties and non-governmental organizations also participated in the statement. In the statement, banners reading "The free press cannot be silenced" were carried, while the slogans "Shoulder to shoulder against fascism" and "The free press cannot be silenced" were shouted frequently.

 

Stating that due to the detention and arrest of journalists, they were forced to come to the courthouse many times to protest, Atakan Sönmez from the Journalist Solidarity Network (GDA) said: "Kartal was detained on January 10, Working Journalists' Day. Journalists and Kartal have been doing their job for years to convey the truth. They are under pressure for doing this. He has been a freelance journalist for years, defending the public's right to be informed. He wants to be arrested for this. Truth will prevail in this country."

 

SUPPORT FOR JOURNALIST KARTAL

 

Pointing out that the pressure on journalists has increased, Mustafa Aslan, President of the Federation of Alevi Bektashi Associations, said: "An environment of fear was intended to be created and that a 'collective struggle' should be waged against it. The last struggles of the power that made the country unable to govern. I demand the release of all imprisoned journalists.”

 

Cuma Erçe, Chairperson of Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Associations, stated that Kartal is an Alevi journalist and is the voice and breath of Alevis. Erçe said: "We all have to enlarge this struggle shoulder to shoulder.

 

'KARTAL IS A FREE PEN'

 

HDP's Serpil Kemalbay also said: "The top of the state and the police became a mafia gang. They run a mafia organization. The Ministry of Interior, whose photo is published every day with a criminal organization, corruption, robbing the public and drug lords, is declaring almost all democratic forces to be criminals. He also uses the arm cuff as a pressure tool. It is trying to criminalize free press employees by using the media and the judiciary. Eagle is a free pen. Kartal is a friend of ours who seeks the truth. He is wanted to be intimidated because of the work he has done.”

 

REQUEST FOR ARRESTS

 

Kartal, who was referred to the prosecutor's office at the time of the statement, was referred to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace on the charge of "being a member of the PKK" following the deposition proceedings. The prosecutor's office demanded that Kartal be arrested.