Mansur Yavaş's statement on the detentions at Halk TV: 'It has been seen that pressures do not yield results'
Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş paid a solidarity visit to Halk TV Managing Editor Serhan Asker, who was released under judicial control conditions after being detained. Yavaş made notable statements there.
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Speaking in front of the crowd gathered for solidarity in front of the Halk TV Ankara Bureau, ABB Mayor Yavaş stated that a climate of fear is being created.
Yavaş used the expressions, "It has been seen that these pressures do not yield results. Hopefully, we will see the result of this at the ballot box."
Highlights from Yavaş's speech are as follows:
"In Turkey, lately, the moment someone says something, the judiciary takes action. Arrest is the last resort that should be applied. What is the point of arrest?
When one is acquitted at the end of the trial process, this period of detention cannot be taken back. Depriving an innocent person of their freedom is a very grave situation.
The fact that many statements that cause public outrage are not touched at all also increasingly reduces trust in the judiciary. The greatest guarantee of the existence of democracy in a country is a free press.
But this has almost turned into 'do not speak, if you do something wrong, the courthouse is there for you.'
Perhaps a climate of fear is born from this. But the eyes of the whole world are also on the hand extended toward the press. Frankly, these behaviors sadden us."
They want to silence them. These behaviors serve no other purpose. We have seen much heavier programs. But we have not seen either RTÜK or the judiciary take action. It has been seen that these pressures do not yield results. Hopefully, we will see the result of this at the ballot box."