Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reacts to the detention of Tolga Şardan

T24 columnist Tolga Şardan was detained within the scope of an investigation launched ex officio by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office following his article published yesterday titled "What is in the 'judiciary report' submitted by the MIT to the Presidency?".

It was learned that a search was conducted at Şardan's home.

REASON FOR ACCUSATION REVEALED

While it was stated that the investigation was launched due to Şardan's article regarding the MIT report submitted to President Tayyip Erdoğan, which contains findings on allegations of corruption in the judiciary, it was learned that Şardan is accused of "publicly disseminating misleading information."

In his article yesterday, Şardan wrote, "The MIT Presidency prepared a special report on the decay in the judiciary and delivered it to the Presidency. The sources I spoke with pointed out that the Istanbul Bakırköy Courthouse is at the center of the allegations of decay in the judiciary."

'DETENTION IS UNACCEPTABLE'

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) representative Erol Önderoğlu reacted to the detention of journalist Tolga Şardan.

Önderoğlu stated, "It is unacceptable for Tolga Şardan to be detained due to his article reporting that the state has finally taken action regarding allegations of 'corruption in the judiciary'. Şardan wrote what the public needs to know, he did his job, he must be released."

STATEMENT FROM THE CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued a statement regarding the detention of Şardan.

The statement from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is as follows:

"By our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office; an ex officio investigation has been launched against the suspect Tolga ŞARDAN in accordance with Article 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK) on the grounds that the content of the article titled 'What is in the 'judiciary report' submitted by the MIT to the Presidency?', written by Tolga Şardan on the news website T24.com.tr on 31/10/2023, contains statements and declarations of a nature that constitute the elements of the crime of 'Publicly Disseminating Misleading Information' regulated in Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) No. 5237, and the suspect has been detained within the scope of the investigation."