Fatih Altaylı's first YouTube video after release: Will he continue his broadcasts?

Journalist Fatih Altaylı, who was arrested on charges of 'threatening the President' after being targeted by Oktay Saral, chief advisor to AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has been released after spending 6 months in prison.

Fatih Altaylı, who was seen yesterday (January 25) at the funeral of Haldun Dormen, published his first video on his own YouTube channel today.

In this broadcast, Altaylı shared his assessments regarding both his prison process and the allegations directed at him.

Altaylı emphasized that no negotiations were held with him during his time in prison. Stating that some politicians offered advice while he was inside, Altaylı said there was no contact from the ruling party wing.

Altaylı said, "No one told me 'we will release you if you don't write,' nor did they make any such implications. Many politicians inside gave me advice. I am talking about opposition politicians, saying 'please don't say this.' There was no lawyer, representative, or delegate from the ruling wing negotiating with me. Let no one have any questions about that in their mind."

Altaylı also answered the question, "What is he thinking after the prison process?" and stated that there should be consecutive operations.

"THAT IS ALSO A PART OF LIFE"

Describing his approach to the prison experience, Altaylı expressed that he neither glorifies nor belittles this process. He emphasized that people who produce ideas in Turkey go through similar processes.

Altaylı said, "I am in a position that neither sanctifies, nor cares about, nor trivializes going to prison. That is also a part of life. Unfortunately, in Turkey, the writer-intellectual crowd, people like us, those who produce ideas and whose ideas do not align with the ruling understanding of the day, experience prison processes."

"I AM NEITHER THE FIRST NOR THE LAST"

Altaylı emphasized that thinkers have been going through similar processes in Turkey for many years. He stated that he sees himself as neither an exception nor a symbol of this experience:

"Since Turkey began experimenting with democracy, people have been experiencing these troubles. Namık Kemal did not go into exile for pleasure. From Nazım Hikmet to Altan Öymen, people have gone to prison because of their ideas. I don't have a situation like 'Oh my God, I went to prison, I achieved something amazing.' Nor do I have a situation like 'I went to prison and was subjected to a great injustice.' I am neither the first thinker in Turkey to be subjected to injustice, nor will I be the last. I am not sanctifying it, nor am I belittling it; I am at the point of 'what comes to one's head must be endured.'"

"I DID NOT HAVE A GREAT ENLIGHTENMENT BECAUSE I WENT TO PRISON"

Stating that what he experienced in prison did not create a major mental transformation in him, Altaylı said he spent the process by adapting:

"Since I am not a super social person, I did not torment myself while missing my loved ones. Human beings have to adapt to conditions due to evolution. If you don't adapt, it is impossible to survive. I saw myself obligated to adapt to negative conditions and display the most positive approach. Honestly, I did not have a great enlightenment because I went to prison, nor did I question my life from scratch."

"I DID NOT PAY A PRICE FOR ANYONE"

Emphasizing that this process should not be seen as a price, Altaylı evaluated what he went through as a personal experience:

"I did not pay a price for anyone, I did not pay it for myself."

"THIS PROCESS TIRED ME A LITTLE"

Stating that the letters he wrote in prison and following the agenda tired him, Altaylı spoke about the physical and mental effects of the process:

The prison process tired me a little. I was tired while writing the letters, first and foremost. I wrote some until my finger bled. Following the agenda tires a person.

"I BECAME UNABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHTS"

Stating that he had sleep problems and that the lack of communication was difficult for him, Altaylı also shared information about his health status.

"We kept it up for 3.5 months. Then I couldn't take it anymore, you become unable to sleep at night, prison makes a person stupid. Lack of communication is something else."

WILL HE CONTINUE HIS BROADCASTS?

Stating that he plans to have more than one surgery due to health problems, Altaylı said he also aims to return to his broadcast programs:

"I have a 2.2 cm formation in my head. I will have that removed. I fell in prison. I broke my hand, we were taken to the hospital for days. A piece broke off from my kneecap, I need to have an operation.

The wound on my back needs to be operated on. There are several operations I need to have in succession. I also need to have an operation on my nose. I hope we start 'Teke Tek Bilim' as soon as possible, I really want to. We will do a broadcast with Celal and İlber this week."