Turkey: Another journalist arrested in media crackdown

Journalists protest against attacks on press freedom

The IFJ is calling for the immediate release of Turkish investigative journalist Ahmet Sik following his arrest today as part of the ongoing crackdown on media freedom in Turkey. The arrest came after he allegedly published tweets which the authorities claim supported the banned PKK and because he wrote a piece for the opposition newspaper Cumhurryet. Ahmet had previously been detained for having written that the Turkish state had been infiltrated by the Fethullah Gülen movement. IFJ President Philippe Leruth said: "Instead of being arrested he should have received a press award as the authorities claim the Gulen movement was behind the attempted coup. He is instead in custody. "Once again, press freedom is under pressure in Turkey, and the Turkish authorities show they are not trying to save Turkish democracy, but willing to reinforce an authoritarian power. Like all other imprisoned Turkish journalists, whose work is criminalized, Ahmet Sik must be released immediately and without any conditions"

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