Threat against journalist İsmail Arı: 'We know your home address...'

BirGün newspaper reporter İsmail Arı was threatened after publishing a report about Gökhan Göz, who is stated to have links to the Şahinler gang. In the report in question, Arı had brought up allegations that Göz "avoided arrest by bribing the judiciary." Gökhan Göz was later arrested on charges of money laundering.

“WE KNOW YOUR HOME ADDRESS, DON'T GET YOURSELF KILLED”

Journalist Arı shared the threatening messages sent to him via WhatsApp with the public in a post on his social media account. The messages included the following statements:

“Look, I swear I will have you picked up from your home. Don't get yourself killed, kid. Ankara is a small place, we have your home address…”

In another message, the threatening tone intensified further, with the phrases:

“Are you accepting guests? Keep going and see what happens? You will see me in your dreams…”

RELATIVES ALSO TARGETED

The threats were not limited to İsmail Arı. A list containing the names and contact information of Arı's close relatives was sent to him. It was subsequently learned that some of his relatives were also called from different phone numbers and threatened.

“WE ARE ENTRUSTED TO THIS STATE”

İsmail Arı stated that he had filed an official complaint with police units and Ministry of Interior officials regarding the threats. In his statement, Arı said the following:

“I reported the matter to the police and Ministry of Interior officials and filed a complaint. As I said to the police; from this hour on, my life and the lives of my family are entrusted to this state. If anything happens to me, the address is clear. We are journalists and we will continue to do journalism.”

WHAT HAPPENED?

BirGün reporter İsmail Arı had written about allegations that Gökhan Göz, who is alleged to be associated with the Şahinler gang, had "bribed the judiciary to avoid arrest." Göz was subsequently arrested as part of a money laundering investigation and sent to prison.

News Source: 12punto