Journalist Aziz Oruç was detained on 11 December in Doğubayazıt district of Ağrı and arrested by Doğubeyazıt Penal Court of Peace with the accusation of 'being a member of an illegal organization'.

 

Journalist Oruç who had to go to Federated Kurdistan District because of the law suits filed against him, continued doing journalism there for 3 years. On December 10, Oruç wanted to cross Europe via Iran at the Armenian border crossing. However, he was not allowed in Armenia and surrendered to Iran. On December 10 he was thrown over the fences into the Turkey border and left to die. Oruç, who walked for hours, was taken into custody in Doğubeyazıt. 

 

MKGP: THIS IS A CRIME AGAINST JOURNALISM

 

Journalism organizations reacted to the arrest of Journalist Aziz Oruç. 

 

Mesopotamia Women Journalists Platform spokesperson Ayşe Güney, stating that the arrest of Oruç is a crime against the profession of journalism, said: "Our friend was manipulated. They served lies to the public opinion over a journalist.This is a very dark scene in terms of press freedom and the right to recieve news. Aziz Oruç is a journalist. Everyone knows that."

 

Güney stating that Oruç's arrest was political, called on for solidarity.

 

TGS: AZIZ WAS TERRORIZED AND ARRESTED

 

Turkey Journalists Union (TGS) Diyarbakır Represantative Mahmut Oral who stated that Aziz Oruç was left at Turkey's border with the cooperation of Armenia and Iran, said: "The judiciary have become the authority to implement and approve the decisions of the government. The judiciary have fulfilled the instructions given to them by the President and the government. The pro-government media have played their part and be the executioner of his dignity. Aziz was terrorized and arrested" and demanded that Oruç should be released immediately.

 

ÖGİ: FREE PRESS CAN NOT BE SILENCED

 

Free Journalists Initiative (ÖGİ) spokesperson Hakkı Boltan said Aziz Oruç was targeted although he was a journalist.

 

Boltan said: "The fact that Aziz is being accused of terrorism is a conscious approach. The aim is to feed false news to the public opinion and to influence the court into arresting him. As it happened, Aziz was labeled as a terrorist before the court. The court arrested Aziz regardless of Aziz's condition or statements. This shows that the judiciary is not judicial but political."

 

Boltan stating that hundreds of journalists were arrested like this and that there are 139 journalists behind bars, said: "Journalism is not a crime.  Those who label journalism as a crime are committing a crime. The free press tradition cannot be silenced by oppression."