VAN - The letter sent by our imprisoned reporter Cemil Uğur to Evrensel Newspaper was confiscated by the prison administration on grounds that it was 'objectionable' because it included statements regarding the killing of Metin Göktepe and the injustice in the legal system.

 

The letter sent by Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reporter Cemil Uğur, who is being held in Van High Security Closed Prison, to Evrensel Newspaper on the occasion of January 10 Working Journalists' Day, was seized by the prison administration. The Prison Directorate found the letter "completely objectionable" on grounds that the letter included statements regarding the killing of Metin Göktepe and the injustice in the legal system.

 

THE LETTER ALLEGEDLY TARGETED THE 'STATE'

 

In the decision of the Directorate, it was stated that "the government was personally held responsible for the death of journalist Metin Göktepe, that the press was not free in our country and there was injustice in the legal system, that they were silenced by being arrested".

 

The Directorate claimed that the letter incited the public to hatred and targeted the authorities and institutions of the state, endangering the order and the security of the institutions and the officials of the state.

 

Journalist Uğur objected to the Van Judge of Execution Office against the decision. 

 

4 JOURNALISTS STILL IN PRISON

 

Journalist Uğur is one of the reporters of Mesopotamia Agency breaking the story about two villagers, Osman Şiban and Servet Turgut, who were thrown from a military helicopter in the Çatak district of Van on September 11, 2020. Uğur was arrested along with our reporter Adnan Bilen, Jinnews reporter Şehriban Abi and journalist Nazan Sala after breaking the story on October 6, 2020. 4 journalists were accused of 'making news and interviews about social incidents against the state'. The indictment of the journalists is still not prepared.