Medya News
Daily News
Breaking News
Subscribe
  • Home
  • All News
  • Opinion
  • Kurdistan
  • Women
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
  • More
    • Audio Articles
    • Economy
    • Culture & Art
    • Ecology
    • Newsletter
    • Daily News
Youtube
PODCAST
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All News
  • Opinion
  • Kurdistan
  • Women
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
  • More
    • Audio Articles
    • Economy
    • Culture & Art
    • Ecology
    • Newsletter
    • Daily News
Youtube
PODCAST
No Result
View All Result
Medya News

After 277 days under arrest, Aziz Oruç speaks out: “We want you to hear us”

11:29 am 21/09/2020
A A
After 277 days under arrest, Aziz Oruç speaks out: “We want you to hear us”
Share post

Seda Taşkın

Aziz Oruç, a journalist who has been under arrest for 277 days, will appear before the judge on 21 September. Amid statements from journalism unions demanding his release, Oruç, who sent a message from prison, drew attention to the importance of solidarity: “We are going through a rough period here with the coronavirus, and our families are out there, our profession, our camera. We feel the loneliness and pain. We want this to be known, and we want you to hear us”.

Oruç was arrested and sent to Patnos Type L Prison after being detained in the Doğubayazıt district of Ağrı in December 2019. His second hearing will be held at Ağrı 2nd High Criminal Court on September 21.

Journalists Union of Turkey: Journalism is not a Crime

Journalists Union of Turkey President Gökhan Durmuş says that Aziz Oruç has been isolated and deprived of his freedom for the last nine months. “Even though he has said at every opportunity that he doesn’t do anything other than journalism, Aziz Oruç has not been released despite the lack of evidence against him. This detention, which has now turned into a punishment, must come to an end. I believe the court committee will end this punishment in this hearing. Journalism, as we always say, is not a crime. Informing the public and bringing the facts to the public should no longer be seen as a crime.”

Disk Press Union: We hope that he will be released at this hearing

Stating that Oruç is one of the hundreds of journalists held in prison, DİSK Press Union President Faruk Eren says that Oruç is the victim of an international crime. “After being tortured Oruç was sent to Iran, where a person can easily be executed. He was dumped half naked at the Iran border. He is being held in prison for months now. Journalists are being accused of membership of ‘terrorist’ organizations and spying with no evidence against them. Hundreds of our colleagues are in prison or standing trial with these accusations. We hope that he will be released at this hearing. We are in solidarity with him and all imprisoned journalists. Journalism is not a crime”.

Renan Akyavaş, Press Freedom Program Officer of the International Press Institute (IPI), said: “This is yet another trial against journalists on ‘terrorism-related charges’, this time with Aziz Oruç, a former reporter from the now-closed Dicle News Agency (DIHA) on the dock. While IPI does not have access to the indictment in this case, Oruç was reportedly under immense legal pressure, which prompted his attempt to flee to Europe. In Turkey, journalists, especially Kurdish journalists, are regularly subject to misuse of anti-terror law to silence journalistic activity. Many of these journalists denied the right to a fair trial. Oruç, who has been in prison since December 2019, should be released in this next hearing without further delay and should be granted the right to a fair trial under proper conditions without the intimidation of pretrial detention”.

“We are calling on our colleagues to support Aziz”

Stating that all of Oruç’s files for which he was tried and acquitted were put together in a single file, Oruç’s attorney Erhan Çiftçier said: “There is no organisational evidence regarding Aziz’s capture in Doğubayazıt. Oruç is being held in prison unlawfully, and we expect his release at this hearing. We call on all of our colleagues to make a speak out on this this conspiracy against Aziz”.

Oruç’s wife Hülya Oruç said: “I expect to hear Aziz will be free on Monday. The real struggle will begin then. I hope that Aziz will be out with his cameras for this struggle. I expect everyone to support us on Monday.”

Aziz Oruc’s Message

The message Oruç sent via his wife before the hearing is as follows: “Everyone knows that journalists are under pressure in Turkey. Everyone who writes or speaks is under great pressure. I want to emphasise the importance of solidarity here. I believe that journalists in prison and journalists outside should be in solidarity. As long as there is solidarity, I think those who are imprisoned can be released and heard. There was some good news last week. The release of Barış Pehlivan, Murat Ağırel and Hülya Kılınç was a promising development in terms of freedom of expression in Turkey. We have to make this hope grow further. It is important in terms of the future of this country and freedom of expression. It is a difficult period because of the new coronavirus. Our families are out there, our profession, our camera. We feel the loneliness and pain. We want this to be known, and we want you to hear us. The new coronavirus has hit both Turkey and all the other countries hard. Every day people are dying from this disease; they cannot get out of their homes. Now think of the prisons. We can only make one phone call a week as part of the measures taken against the outbreak. There is no other platform that our voice can reach out there. That’s why the outside of this place means a lot to us. It is important to be out, to continue our work as journalists, use our cameras, and be with our families and children. I wish all journalists in prisons to be released as soon as possible. And for this, we have to be in solidarity. I am sending my regards to all those who support us, from my prison cell in Patnos Prison. I am glad to have you with me. I am glad you are in solidarity with us. I believe that we will overcome these days together”.


Share post
Tags: Trending

Related Posts

Syrian rebel commander voted for Erdoğan in Turkish elections

Syrian rebel commander voted for Erdoğan in Turkish elections

May 28, 2023
Clashes erupt in Kurdish cities following Turkey’s presidential elections

Clashes erupt in Kurdish cities following Turkey’s presidential elections

May 28, 2023
Violence erupts in Turkey’s presidential election, celebrations turn deadly

Violence erupts in Turkey’s presidential election, celebrations turn deadly

May 28, 2023
Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition calls for strengthening of democratic politics amidst election turmoil

Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition calls for strengthening of democratic politics amidst election turmoil

May 28, 2023
HDP former co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş criticizes the ECHR

Kurdish politician defies defeat, calls for undeterred fight for democracy

May 28, 2023
Erdoğan slams Turkey’s LGBT community in first speech after election

Erdoğan slams Turkey’s LGBT community in first speech after election

May 28, 2023

Videos

Clashes erupt in Kurdish cities following Turkey’s presidential elections
POLITICS

Clashes erupt in Kurdish cities following Turkey’s presidential elections

May 28, 2023

All News

Syrian rebel commander voted for Erdoğan in Turkish elections

Clashes erupt in Kurdish cities following Turkey’s presidential elections

Violence erupts in Turkey’s presidential election, celebrations turn deadly

Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition calls for strengthening of democratic politics amidst election turmoil

Kurdish politician defies defeat, calls for undeterred fight for democracy

Erdoğan slams Turkey’s LGBT community in first speech after election

Medya News

Impressum

About us

Privacy Policy

Subscribe
Contact

 

No Result
View All Result
  • All News
  • Opinion
  • Kurdistan
  • Women
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
  • Ecology
  • Economy
  • Culture & Art
  • Daily News
  • Breaking News
  • Newsletter
  • Authors
  • Podcast

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Add New Playlist

Loading
Contact