Veysel Ok, lawyer and deputy director of the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), says: “The Constitutional Court should make the decisions for both Turkish and Kurdish journalists.
The Legal Department of the Media and Law Association (MLSA) has appealed to the Constitutional Court (CC) on behalf of the editor of the Mesopotamian Agency (MA), Sedat Yilmaz.
The editor of MA, Sedat Yilmaz, was arrested on May 3 for alleged ‘membership in the organization.” The arresting Yilmaz’s was brutally beaten by police in front of his wife and children.
The MLSA has appealed to the Constitutional Court on behalf of journalist Yilmaz.
Lawyer Veysel Ok tells Botan Times about the appeal;
Yilmaz’s case directly related with journalism and free speech and should be investigated and closed immediately.
Lawyer Veysel Ok
Lawyer Veysel Ok stated that journalist Yilmaz was tortured during the arrest, which violates the prohibition of “torture and ill-treatment” in the European Convention on Human Rights. He said that they had mentioned this in their application.
“Arrested for being a Kurd and an opponent”
The reason for arresting Yilmaz was his journalistic work.
His phone calls and the content of his messages were defined by the court as activities for the organization.
According to lawyer OK, Yilmaz was arrested before the elections for political reasons, for being a Kurd, and for his opposition. This was considered a violation of the 18th article of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Veysel Ok recalls the decision of the Constitiution Court (CC) regarding journalist Deniz Yucel and demands that the same decision be taken for Kurdish journalists.
The court ruled that “freedom of personal security” and “freedom of the press” were violated for journalist Yucel. It also fined him 25,000 thousand to Turkey.
“There is no difference between these imprisoned Kurdish journalists and Yucel. They were arrested for their work. In February 2022, we brought the case of Cemil Ugur to court, who was arrested for reporting on two villagers who were thrown out of a helicopter. The Constitution Court found that “his rights and safety” had been violated and condemned the government.
Therefore, we hope that the court will also decide on the violation of rights in the case of Yilmaz.
Lawyer Veysel Ok
This news was translated by Yonca Sarsilmaz
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