An application has been submitted to the Constitutional Court (AYM) for 4 journalists who were arrested for documenting the case of Osman Şiban and Servet Turgut who were detained by Turkish soldiers partaking in an operation in Çatak district of Van and were thrown out of a military helicopter. Servet Turgut passed away after the incident. Attorneys from the Association for Media and Legal Studies (MLSA), who defend Mesopotamia News Agency (MA) reporters Adnan Bilen and Cemil Uğur, and Jinnews reporter Şehbiran Abi and journalist Nazan Sala, stated that the application has been filed to object the violation of the "right to freedom and personal security".

Stating that journalists were detained and imprisoned unfairly and unlawfully, the attorneys maintained that the reason for the detention of journalists was their professional activities and that this situation was clearly demonstrated by the physical evidence consisting of books, newspapers and news notes presented as a criminal element during their testimony. Emphasizing that the real reason behind the arrest decision is the public uproar caused by the torture experienced by the citizens detained in Van, the lawyers noted that the news reporting by the journalists disturbed the government officials.

BACKGROUND

Mesopotamia News Agency (MA) reporters Adnan Bilen and Cemil Uğur and Jinnews reporter Şehbiran Abi and journalist Nazan Sala were detained in Van province on October 6. The journalists had documented an incident in which Turkish soldiers partaking in an operation in the Çatak district detained Osman Şiban and Servet Turgut on September 11 and threw them out of a military helicopter. Servet Turgut lost his life because of the critical injuries he had suffered. 4 journalists were arrested on the grounds of “reporting news against the state” by the court they appeared before on 9 October.