Journalist Fatih Ergin arrested over social media post

An arrest warrant has been issued for journalist Fatih Ergin. Ergin's lawyer, Sibel Sevinç Deveci, announced that her client has been arrested.

Ergin had been detained as part of an investigation into the death of former National Intelligence Organization (MİT) officer Kaşif Kozinoğlu in prison, due to a social media post he made.

It was stated that Fatih Ergin was processed on charges of "publicly disseminating misleading information." It was reported that the post in question contained a statement claiming a doctor had previously worked as a forensic medicine employee, and that Ergin had later corrected this information.

DİSK Basın-İş Union reacts to Ergin's arrest

It is unacceptable that journalist Fatih Ergin was detained and subsequently arrested and sent to prison on charges of "publicly disseminating misleading information" based on a social media post!

In a statement made by Ergin's lawyer, it was noted that the journalist was detained due to a post he made regarding the death of Turgay Tamer, who had been detained as part of the Kaşif Kozinoğlu investigation and later released under judicial control, in his home.

Reporting news, sharing information, and asking questions about an event that directly concerns the public interest are among the fundamental duties of journalism.

Journalism is not a crime. Depriving journalists of their freedom for reporting news, informing the public, and asking questions is a serious threat to press freedom.

As DİSK Basın-İş, we demand a working and legal order where journalists can perform their duties freely, where news and truth are not seen as criminal elements, and where press and expression freedom are under guarantee.

We want all pressures and investigations against journalists, especially the arrest of Fatih Ergin, to be evaluated in terms of press freedom.

Fatih Ergin must be released immediately!

News Source: 12punto