Journalist Pınar Gayıp, who has been detained since February, said in a letter sent from prison that the indictment criminalizes her journalistic activities. Gayıp said, "I will continue to practice journalism."
MLSA – Journalist Pınar Gayıp, who has been held at Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison in Istanbul since February, met with attorney Emine Özhasar, coordinator of the MLSA Legal Unit, at the prison. In a letter she sent afterward, Gayıp shared her assessment of the indictment prepared against her. Stating that the charges in the case consist of her journalistic activities, Gayıp said, "The only thing they accuse me of as a crime is my professional activities."
Referring to the evidence cited in the indictment, Gayıp said the prosecution is based on her reporting from prisons, her coverage of the Saturday Mothers' protests, and her reporting on the funeral of Emine Ocak. Emphasizing that she will continue practicing journalism, Gayıp's letter reads:
"The indictment has finally arrived in the case in which I have been imprisoned since February. The only thing they accuse me of as a crime is my professional activities. The phone records of interviews I conducted with the families of prisoners to prevent more deaths in custody while coffins were leaving prisons, my news coverage at the funeral of Emine Ocak of the Saturday Mothers, and my reporting in pursuit of justice for the Suruç massacre, which I witnessed...
Just days before the 11th anniversary of the Suruç massacre, these are the 'criminal' allegations that will force me to commemorate the 33 victims from within four prison walls.
They want us not to practice journalism or speak out about social issues. But that is precisely what journalism is: writing the truth. Whether I will be released at my hearing on Sept. 14 remains uncertain, but I will continue to practice journalism in every sphere.
In solidarity, with my love."
What happened?
Journalist Pınar Gayıp was detained on Feb. 3 during operations carried out across 22 provinces targeting the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) and affiliated organizations. She was later placed in pretrial detention.
In an indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Gayıp is charged with membership in the Marxist Leninist Communist Party (MLKP). The indictment cites as evidence her press card, her work for the Etkin News Agency (ETHA), her coverage of the Saturday Mothers' protests, her reporting on the funeral of Emine Ocak, and several phone calls she made in the course of her journalistic work.
Gayıp's trial is scheduled to begin at 10:15 a.m. on Sept. 14 before the Istanbul 23rd High Criminal Court.
