Suat Toktaş arrested, Kürşad Oğuz and Barış Pehlivan released under judicial control

Hazal GÜVEN / 12punto

In the 'expert witness' investigation launched against Halk TV journalists, journalist Barış Pehlivan and the channel's program coordinator Kürşad Oğuz were released under judicial control, while Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktaş was arrested.

Journalists Serhan Asker and Seda Selek, who were detained alongside Barış Pehlivan, had previously been released with a travel ban and a requirement to sign in.

It was learned that Pehlivan and Oğuz will be required to report to the police station to sign in on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

It was announced that Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktaş, for whom an arrest warrant was issued, will be sent to Marmara Prison.

Statements came from CHP figures following the arrest decision:

?? 12punto reporting from in front of the Çağlayan Courthouse
Following the arrest of Suat Toktaş, statements came from figures such as CHP's Burhanettin Bulut and Ali Mahir Başarır @alimahir
News: @hazalgvn https://t.co/TXrQRphHAa pic.twitter.com/KnXdOANY45

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) January 29, 2025

CHP Deputy Chairman Burhanettin Bulut

This decision is political, it is practically a witch hunt. All of these friends of ours are journalists; Suat Toktaş is a journalist friend of ours with a spotless record. Today, the profession of journalism has been arrested. This news may of course be investigated ethically, but this type of treatment is not right.

We know very well that these actions are an intimidation and fear-mongering campaign. We hope that journalists will not encounter such an event again; we will keep our hopes for our country alive and continue our struggle. I hope we do not encounter such events from now on, but if we do, we will continue to stand by our friends.

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır

This is a sad decision. A group of incompetent people who think they run this country are sending dozens of talented people to prison. The editor-in-chief of Halk TV is being arrested; he has no crime. But even if he were to be sentenced for this 'crime', how long would he stay in prison? Zero. This is revenge, this is a shameful decision. Those who run this country want to intimidate intellectuals, journalists, and mayors...

One day, all of our doors could be knocked on at six in the morning because the one-man rule is using this courthouse to stay in his seat. We must all resist these decisions. Yes, we are happy for our friends released under judicial control, but they criticized the gentleman and revealed the wrongs; committing corruption is not a crime, but revealing it is...

The intellectuals of this country are being sent to prison. We will not surrender this beautiful country to a group of incompetents.

?? 12punto reporting from in front of the Çağlayan Courthouse
First statement from Barış Pehlivan and Kürşad Oğuz @kursadoguz, who were released under judicial control in the expert witness investigation
News: @hazalgvn https://t.co/TXrQRphHAa pic.twitter.com/KnItnu8W2R

— 12punto (@12puntocomtr) January 29, 2025

FIRST STATEMENT FROM KÜRŞAD OĞUZ

I cannot say we are hopeful; we went in as three people and came out as two, so we are unhappy. Halk TV has always been on the side of the people. We expect the people to stand by us even more. They showed the power of resistance, perhaps that is why we are outside, and we will get Suat out too.

FIRST STATEMENT FROM BARIŞ PEHLİVAN

Friends, we are very angry; justice has not been served. Right now, our dear editor-in-chief, our master journalist Suat Toktaş, has unfortunately been sent to prison without any justice. I repeat, justice has not been served. After Suat was arrested, he wanted me to convey this to you... We are the voice of everyone, of the destitute, of those who have no voice...

We want the citizens whose voices we have been to stand up for real journalists. Suat Toktaş has lost his freedom right now just because he showed journalistic reflexes. The struggle we are giving for this country to be a happy place will not end, and we expect citizens to stand by Halk TV.

News Source: Hazal Güven