Support message for BirGün from Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu
A message of solidarity for the BirGün executives, who were detained for reporting on the Sabah newspaper's visit to Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek, also came from former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
12punto
Former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu reacted to the detention of birgun.net Publication Coordinators Uğur Koç and Berkant Gültekin, as well as birgun.net Managing Editor Yaşar Gökdemir, who were taken into custody for reporting on the visit of Sabah newspaper News Coordinator Abdurrahman Şimşek to Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek. In his statement, Kılıçdaroğlu expressed that the detention was unacceptable, stating, "Uğur Koç, Berkant Gültekin, and Yaşar Gökdemir are journalists who cannot be intimidated or bought."
Journalists Koç, Gültekin, and Gökdemir were detained after BirGün newspaper reported on Abdurrahman Şimşek's visit to Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek. The detained journalists were referred to the prosecutor's office after giving their statements at the police station.
Former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also made a statement on social media regarding the decision, which drew reactions from the opposition.
Noting that BirGün is one of the rare media outlets in Turkey that continues its independent and impartial journalistic activities, Kılıçdaroğlu's post is as follows:
"BirGün newspaper is one of the rare media outlets in our country that continues its journalistic activities in an independent and impartial manner.
Uğur Koç, Berkant Gültekin, and Yaşar Gökdemir are journalists who cannot be intimidated or bought. They are patriotic enough not to surrender to a climate of fear and are committed to professional ethics.
Their detention is unacceptable.
I convey my feelings of support and solidarity to them."