Reactions grow following the arrest of Alican Uludağ

Gathering in front of the Çağlayan Courthouse, 12 different press organizations condemned the arrest of Alican Uludağ and stated that the decision undermines the public's right to receive accurate information. In a collective press statement, serious objections were raised against the recent criminalization of journalists.

The joint statement recalled that Uludağ had been summoned to testify by prosecutors multiple times and had never evaded any investigation, emphasizing that the procedures during his detention and the language used in the prosecutor's statements were unacceptable. Professional organizations stated that such practices against journalists hinder the public's right to information and threaten press freedom.

The statement was joined by the Press Council, the Journalists Association, the Progressive Journalists Association, the Journalists Association of Turkey, the Journalists Union of Turkey, DİSK Basın-İş, KESK Haber-Sen, the Diplomacy Correspondents Association, the Economy Correspondents Association, the Media and Law Studies Association, the İzmir Journalists Association, and the Parliamentary Correspondents Association.

SUCCESSIVE REACTIONS FROM POLITICIANS AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Following the decision to arrest Alican Uludağ, statements have come one after another from political circles and various professional organizations. In a message sent to the public through his lawyers, Uludağ stated, "Let everyone know that Alican Uludağ has not been silenced and will not be silenced."

CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik addressed the Minister of Justice, noting that there are question marks regarding the ministry's impartiality and criticizing the current situation. Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş stated that Uludağ made his social media posts from Ankara and resides in Ankara, emphasizing that the investigation being conducted in Istanbul and the resulting arrest decision raise doubts regarding jurisdiction and procedure. Yavaş said, "The measure of arrest for journalistic activities should be exceptional."

CHP Deputy Chair Ulaş Karasu stated, "In a democratic order, the real threat is not questions; it is the mentality that is uncomfortable with questions. Alican Uludağ is a journalist, and journalism is not a crime." Another CHP Deputy Chair, Gül Çiftci, argued that political pressure has been influential in recent judicial decisions and said that Uludağ should regain his freedom immediately.

'HE MUST BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY'

TİP Chair Erkan Baş also issued a statement saying, "Those who cannot tolerate free press activities will be held accountable. Alican Uludağ must be released immediately."

The Turkish Medical Association stated in a declaration that the attempt to silence journalists through detention and judicial threats hinders both press and freedom of expression, as well as the public's access to accurate information.

The statement published by the Journalists Association of Turkey included the following: "Freedom of the press and expression is the foundation of a democratic society. This freedom is the guarantee of the right of not only journalists but the entire society to access information. We want our colleague to be released as soon as possible."

The Journalists Union of Turkey stated, "Alican Uludağ will not be silenced! The arrest decision given by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace is worrying for both our profession and judicial independence. We reiterate Uludağ's words before the court and defend journalism!"

The İzmir Journalists Association also expressed its position, stating, "Journalists carry out oversight for the public interest, question those who use public power, and share information relevant to society. This is an indispensable element of democratic societies. The fact that members of the press are subjected to criminal investigations because of their news or opinions is a heavy blow to freedom of expression and the press. We do not accept the arrest of Alican Uludağ and we stand by him."

Following Uludağ's arrest, demands that the journalism profession and freedom of expression must be protected were voiced loudly once again. Associations and unions reiterated the message that "Journalism is not a crime" and stated that they would continue to defend the public's right to receive information.