TELE1 Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardağ's appeal against his detention in Silivri was rejected again.
‘The court responded to the objection to the detention of TELE1 Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardağ, who was unlawfully arrested on charges of ’making propaganda for a terrorist organization“ after his words, which he used in his program ”4 Questions 4 Answers' to express his view that the AKP was preparing a new solution process with Abdullah Öcalan, were taken out of context and circulated on social media.
According to Cumhuriyet, TELE1 Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardağ's appeal against his arrest was once again rejected.
WHAT HAPPENED?
On June 25, Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an ex officio investigation against journalist Merdan Yanardağ for “praising crime and criminal” and ‘making propaganda for a terrorist organization’, citing his statements about PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan on his TV show.
On June 27, Yanardağ was detained after the broadcast by police officers who came to the channel's office during the broadcast and was taken to Vatan Security Directorate for questioning.
Yanardağ was questioned by Ebru Baran Celep, one of the prosecutors of the Terror and Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau, and was referred to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace on June 28 with a request for arrest.
Yanardağ testified to Ramazan Çiçek at Istanbul 7th Criminal Judgeship of Peace and was arrested on charges of ’making propaganda for a terrorist organization‘.
Yanardağ's detention was objected to by his lawyer Bilgütay Hakkı Durna at the Istanbul 7th Criminal Judgeship of Peace. The objection was rejected by the Istanbul 31st Criminal Court of First Instance. The court cited ‘suspicion of flight' as the reason for rejecting the objection.
The indictment against Yanardağ on charges of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” and “praising crime and criminals” with a prison sentence of up to 10 years and 6 months was accepted today. Yanardağ, whose detention was decided to continue, will appear before the judge for the first time on October 4.