Following the detention and subsequent arrest of journalist Fatih Ergin, prompted by a social media post, the Communication Workers Solidarity Network has issued a reaction. In its statement, the network asserted that Ergin was targeted due to his journalistic activities and called for his immediate release.
Ergin had been detained at his home on charges of "publicly disseminating misleading information" due to a post regarding the death of Turgay Tamer, a former prison doctor who was found dead in his home while under investigation in the case of former MIT official Kaşif Kozinoğlu. Ergin was referred to the courthouse and subsequently arrested by the court.
REACTION FROM THE SOLIDARITY NETWORK
The Patronların Ensesindeyiz (We Are at the Bosses' Necks) Communication Workers Solidarity Network emphasized in its statement that it is unacceptable for a journalist to be arrested over a phrase inadvertently used and later corrected in a post made in the public interest.
The statement expressed that detentions, investigations, and arrests targeting journalists do not only affect media workers but also target the public's right to receive information. The network stated, "In an environment where journalistic activities are carried out under the threat of investigation and arrest, one cannot speak of the public's right to learn the truth."
Fatih Ergin must be released immediately! Fatih Ergin is a journalist, we stand with him. He will be released, and he will write again!
It was noted that within the scope of the investigation, Ergin was accused of "publicly disseminating misleading information" under Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and "committing the crime through press and publication" under TCK 218, based on his inadvertent use of the phrase "forensic medicine employee" in his post about Turgay Tamer. It was reported that the same phrase had also been used by some media outlets in initial reports regarding Tamer's death.
In December 2025, Ergin had also been detained on the same charges due to his social media posts regarding a clash during an ISIS operation in Yalova, and was later released under judicial control. In a statement he made at that time, Ergin had said that his reports regarding the ISIS structure reflected the truth.
News Source: 12punto
