Journalist Serdar Akinan has been released following his arrest on Wednesday and subsequent 20 hour detention for reporting on allegations of corruption in the Turkish government.
Authorities confiscated Akinan’s phone and laptop, and blocked the YouTube channel of Muhammed Yakut, the Kurdish businessman who first voiced the allegations Akinan was reporting on. The businessman has since started a new channel and shared his videos again.
Akinan’s case file was placed under a confidentiality order, which prevented his lawyers from obtaining information during the arrest. On Akinan’s release, lawyer Serkan Günal confirmed there were no immediate plans to press further charges.
Akinan said that he will continue reporting, and added, “This country needs free, independent journalism.”
In his videos, the businessman claims that he has documents to prove his allegations against prominent public figures and government officials in Turkey.
