Turkish journalist detained for tweets critical of president

Turkish police on Friday detained the editor of a leading English-language daily newspaper on suspicion of “insulting” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a series of tweets. Bulent Kenes, editor-in-chief of Today’s Zaman, was taken away from the newspaper’s headquarters in Istanbul as supporters chanted: “Free media cannot be silenced!” The detention was televised live.

In the run-up to next month’s parliamentary elections, the Turkish government’s attempts at intimidation of independent and critical journalists by abusing the criminal justice system have increased in intensity and frequency.

Today’s Zaman statement

An Istanbul judge had earlier agreed to a request by prosecutors to detain Kenes amid an ongoing investigation into tweets sent in August that allegedly insulted Erdogan. Kenes had in June received 21-month suspended jail sentence in a separate case on similar charges of insulting Erdogan. The cases come amid growing concern over the spiralling numbers of journalists, bloggers and ordinary people who are being taken to court on charges of insulting Erdogan and other top officials.

This unprecedented development reflects the worrying trend of limiting free speech and free expression in Turkey.

Today’s Zaman statement