Turkey: A Bad Day for Freedom of Expression

As pointed out in a previous post on this blog, despite the March 12 release from jail (pending trial) of Nedim Sener and Ahmet Sik -- two high-profile journalists who had been imprisoned for over a year on coup-plotting charges -- serious concerns remain regarding freedom of expression and freedom of the press in Turkey. 

Journalist Ahmet Şık, who was recently released pending trial in a coup plot case, now faces charges for statements made to the press as he was leaving prison and in which he accused police officers, judges and prosecutors involved in his case of conspiring against him, the Sabah daily reported on Monday.
Şık is among four journalists who were jailed pending trial in the OdaTV case, launched as part of a probe into Ergenekon, a clandestine criminal network accused of plotting to overthrow the government. Thirteen suspects are facing charges of involvement in the media wing of Ergenekon. Şık and three other journalists implicated in the case were released after the 11th hearing of the OdaTV trial at the İstanbul 16th High Criminal Court last week.

An angry Şık strongly criticized the trial as he was leaving Silivri Prison last Monday and said the judges, prosecutors and police officers involved in his case will also be jailed.

“There are five people jailed in my case alone. Some 100 journalists are still in prison. The issue of freedom of expression is not just the problem of journalists. There are some 600 students [in prison]. We will go ahead with our struggle. The judges, prosecutors, police officers who plotted and implemented this conspiracy will be put in prison....Justice will be served when they enter here,” he told reporters.