Turkish authorities carried out a number of operations targeting journalists and activists in Eskişehir and other provinces. The investigation focused on alleged organisational links, with suspects including journalists, human rights defenders and political figures being detained and interrogated.
As part of the investigation by the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, several raids were carried out, leading to the detention of a number of journalists. Five journalists – Mehmet Uçar, Erdoğan Alayumat, Serap Güneş, Bilge Aksu and Tuğçe Yılmaz – were sent to court with arrest warrants for “membership of an organisation”. Journalists Bilge Aksu and Mehmet Uçar were referred to the court for arrest. Serap Güneş, Erdoğan Alayumat and Tuğçe Yılmaz were released on judicial control conditions.
The investigation also extended to nine other people, including prominent figures such as Sevtap Akdağ, the co-chair of the DEM Party’s general assembly, and Cengiz Dündar, a councillor in the Payas municipality. All of them were detained, interrogated and sent to court. Human rights defender Nimet Tanrıkulu and trade union leaders Remzi Çalışkan and Kemal Göksoy were among those sent to court with arrest warrants.
In Şırnak, two people were detained in Cizre and three in İdil (Hezex), while raids were carried out in İdil (Hezex) targeting DEM Party officials. Müzeyyen İnan, Yılmaz Soysal and M. Ali Soysal were released under judicial supervision after being referred to court.
The investigation and interrogation of 20 people detained during the operations is still ongoing. The Turkish authorities have stated that the arrests were part of a wider effort to crack down on organisational activities deemed illegal under national law.
