İlber Ortaylı says 'I am ready to provide any statement for Fatih Altaylı': Criticizes Chief Advisor Saral

In his post, Ortaylı reacted to Presidential Chief Advisor Oktay Saral's remark to Altaylı, "The water is starting to get hot," stating: "I could not grasp the connection to public service or the seriousness of a person who sends a message to Altaylı saying 'the water is getting hot.' I submit this to the attention of our state officials. Not only a consultant in such a high position, but even someone in the much lower layers of the bureaucracy has no right to openly engage in such campaigns and express opinions."

Stating that he is willing to go and provide a statement if requested, Ortaylı said, "Undoubtedly, as a historian, I would like to declare that I am ready for any kind of deliberation and statement whenever requested from me."

Journalist Fatih Altaylı, who was detained on allegations of "threatening the President" due to his remarks on his YouTube channel, was arrested by the Criminal Court of Peace to which he was referred after giving his statement to the prosecutor's office. It was learned that the arrest decision was issued by the same Criminal Court of Peace that issued the arrest warrant for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. After the decision, Altaylı was sent to Silivri No. 9 Prison. Historian İlber Ortaylı, with whom Altaylı co-hosts a program, reacted to his arrest. 

İlber Ortaylı used the following expressions in his social media post:

"I have been doing programs with my dear friend Fatih Altaylı for many years. We come together from time to time. We have rarely talked about politics. He has always preferred to be a journalist. I must express my admiration for him on one subject, and it is necessary for everyone to know this: When he takes up a subject, he does the reading, he does the questioning, and he discusses it properly. A presenter or programmer who does programs incompetently, with hearsay information, or with slogans is not very popular in our country anyway. Altaylı is one of the rare people in Turkish society who tries to do his job well.

I will not prolong the matter; serious journalists like Fatih Altaylı, people who are well-equipped in their field, are decreasing all over the world today. The place is full of semi-literates, those who make up fake news to 'look stylish' while working for intelligence agencies, or those who resemble people who try to pass off bias as neutral commentary while gathering so-called information according to the whims of the White House in American 'think tank' organizations.

In this respect, people who do serious journalism and examine politics without entering political groups are a necessity for every society. I could not grasp the connection to public service or the seriousness of the person who, despite serving in the government's close circle of bureaucracy, sent a message to Altaylı in the media saying 'the water is getting hot.'

I submit this to the attention of our state officials. Not only a consultant in such a high position, but even someone in the much lower layers of the bureaucracy has no right to openly engage in such campaigns and express opinions.

I have decided not to make even the slightest comment about Fatih's program until the indictment is issued, with absolute certainty. I also see this as necessary for the work of the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Undoubtedly, as a historian, I would like to declare that I am ready for any kind of deliberation and statement whenever requested from me. I believe that we will see my friend Fatih Altaylı back on duty as soon as possible. Because, let alone Turkey, I have never seen any society reach anywhere by harassing and eroding such people. The world goes where it will go..."

News Source: 12punto