The
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today welcomed the release of four jailed
journalists in Turkey but has warned campaigners that efforts must continue in
support of these and other journalists under pressure in the country.
Four
journalists, Nedim ?ener and Ahmet ??k, and OdaTV writers Ço?kun Musluk and
Sail Çak?r were last night released pending trial in the high-profile OdaTV
case.
However,
six journalists are still in prison relating to this case, and over 100 are in
jail in the country related to a range of alleged offences.
The
defendants in the OdaTV trial face allegations of involvement in the Ergenekon
affair, an alleged plot by an illegal gang to overthrow the Turkish
government.
??k and
?ener presented their defence at the 12 March hearing.
"We welcome
the release of these four journalists, who will continue to be tried but
without arrest", said Arne König, EFJ President. "This is a small victory on a
long road. We urge the government to release all journalists in prison and give
them back the freedom they deserve."
At the Monday hearing (12 March) of the OdaTV
trial, the Istanbul 16th High Criminal Court decided to release
journalists Nedim ?ener and Ahmet ??k pending trial together with
OdaTV writers Ço?kun Musluk and Sait Çak?r.
Reports from the Istanbul 16th High Criminal Court suggest that the decision for the defendants' release was
based on the "possibility of a change of the quality of crime" and
"considering the period of time the defendants remained in
detention".
"To
silence journalists is to silence the people. It is journalism that is on trial
here, and the principle of confidentiality of the news source that is being
stamped out," ??k said in court. ?ener and ??k were in detention for 375 days.
The EFJ,
and its Turkish affiliate the Turkish Union of Journalists (TGS), have played a
leading role in the campaign to defend journalists under threat in Turkey.
This press release is also available in French, click here.
For more information contact the EFJ at 32 2
235 2200
The EFJ represents over 250,000 journalists
in over than 30 countries in Europe.