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Journalists detained, reactions shown in front of Halk TV: 'I am here for a vigil of concern'

Barış Pehlivan, Serhan Asker, and Seda Selek were detained as part of an 'expert witness' investigation. Barış Pehlivan, who reached out to an expert witness to get their views following a statement by Ekrem İmamoğlu, and Seda Selek, who broadcast those views on her program, were detained. Serhan Asker was also detained in Ankara as the responsible party. Following these detentions, citizens gathered in front of the channel to express their reactions. 12punto also interviewed prominent figures to capture the reactions to the detention decision.

Hazal Güven

Hazal GÜVEN / 12punto

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation into Halk TV and the host of the broadcast for airing a phone conversation with an expert witness whose name was disclosed by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu during a press conference. 

A series of detentions took place within the scope of this investigation. 

Many figures who reacted to the detention of the journalists gathered in front of the Halk TV building in a short time to express their opposition. Hazal Güven from 12punto followed the protests on-site and interviewed the figures who arrived there.

Here are those names and their reactions:

Sunay Akın: I am here to hold a vigil of concern on behalf of my country

I am here to hold a moment of vigil of concern on behalf of my country; I am worried about the future of my country...

It is not just my country's forests that are burning, or the flames rising from the rubble after an earthquake that are not just there, it is not just hotels built in unknown ways that are burning, and we are not just giving our lives in the fires I mentioned; the greatest fire is injustice! I am here today to not remain silent in the face of the injustice done to our three valuable friends and to hold a vigil of concern for the future of my country.

People of every thought should be here, because we must think differently; every different thought is an instrument, and democracy is the most beautiful orchestra formed with these different instruments. But if we form this orchestra with those who do not know how to read music, the country turns into a place of fire; that is why it is the duty of every citizen to protect justice and extinguish this fire, and I am here for this purpose.

Mustafa Kemal Erdemol: In this country, journalists are either killed or arrested

A few days ago, we were at the anniversary of Uğur Mumcu's death; in this country, journalists are either killed or arrested. Now, what happened to Barış, Serhan, and Seda is this; these people do not have weapons in their hands, but according to some, they possess the most dangerous weapon. The government does not want even the slightest negativity regarding themselves to be voiced; we are experiencing these, but everyone knows that these are an expression of exhaustion! If they were not this afraid, they would not do this. There is no solid justification or logic anyway, and these arrests are not happening with justification or logic...

We see that the public is standing by them, they are not abandoning their journalists; many political parties, including the TKP and CHP, are also voicing their objections to the government. The government needs to understand that this is very important; I hope the government understands these reactions!

Orhan Aydın: For the AKP, yesterday was the herald of today

I am not surprised by what is happening because yesterday was the herald of today for the AKP...

This people will tear off and throw away this fascist shroud thrown over press freedom; the journalist friends in question are friends who are only after the truth in this country.

As the slogan goes, 'The day will come, the tide will turn, the AKP will be held accountable to the people.'

TKP Central Committee Member Senem Doruk İnam: The AKP tries to suppress everyone it cannot govern through pressure

We are in front of Halk TV; after the unlawful detention of Barış Pehlivan, Seda Selek, and Serhan Asker, we called for people to gather in front of Halk TV, saying 'we will not fall into fear and despair, we will not bow down!' Today, it is unacceptable for journalists to be inside while thieves and murderers are outside in this country; we are here because we do not accept this and we do not bow down, and we say there is no despair.

Journalists are our honor; they were detained because they were doing journalism, but everyone who commits lawlessness in this country is outside. This is a problem of inability to govern; the AKP tries to suppress everyone it cannot govern through pressure, and Turkey and the journalists will not bow down to this!

Nebil Özgentürk: Journalism cannot be silenced

The whole issue is for intimidation; no journalist or artist should speak, no citizen should speak, not on social media, not in the written press, not on screens, nor in street interviews; not a single word should be uttered! They want people to be on the side of the government and not a single word to be said against the government... I am currently in front of the Halk TV building; shortly after my three very valuable friends—Serhan Asker, whose programs I have also been a guest on, Barış Pehlivan, and Seda Selek—were detained, thousands of people are here in front of the Halk TV building without fear. This means that fear is of no use to the inevitable, that one should not be afraid; journalism cannot be silenced.

Former DİSK President Süleyman Çelebi: Even on September 12, our right to defense was better than today

What is happening today and what happened in previous days means there is no system of law or justice left in this country. Its arrival started earlier and was carried to these days; at the point we have reached today, instead of watching from the stands, we need everyone to be on the field in this struggle, we need everyone to meet in the ranks of democracy.

Democracy is being murdered in this country; it is not right to remain a spectator to this today because regretting it tomorrow will not mean anything; it is the point where everything ends. Fascism is continuing in its most ruthless form today; I was tried with the death penalty on September 12, and our right to defense was better then than it is today. I am not praising September 12; even then, the law was working one way or another; today, we are at a point where the law does not work!

People are being trapped, brought before the court with fabricated claims, and ruthlessly arrested; they have families, children, and relatives. It is a pity, the democracy of this country is being murdered; no one should stand in the stands anymore, get on the field, let's fight the struggle for democracy together, shoulder to shoulder.

Sol Party MYK Member Alper Taş: We saw military fascism, now we are living through civil fascism

We are in a process of civil fascism; we saw military fascism, now we are living through civil fascism. They are carrying out coup after coup; there is an attack on all our democratic spaces, freedom of expression, assembly...

They are very weak, fragile, cowardly, and they know they are in the wrong! The stick in their hands...

They are trying to use the stick, but this people will not surrender to the stick; they cannot take us over with a stick, they cannot cover up the truth. One of the reasons they are attacking Halk TV is that they have no tolerance for channels, voices, and colors that reveal these truths. We will fight the struggle against civil fascism together and we will defeat them; we are the future of Turkey, we will win this struggle with our heads held high.