Journalists detaşbed in İzmir on 13 Feburary were questioned by counterterrorism police about their news stories, phone calls, and interviews, including questions on their association memberships, social media posts, and their coverage of the Agrobay workers' strike and the March 8 protests in Konak
MLSA - As part of an investigation launched by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, six journalists who were detained on February 13 began giving their statements on the evening of February 15. They were questioned about their possible political party memberships, social media activities, the events they covered, and the news stories they produced.
Journalists from various media outlets, including Cihan Başakçıoğlu of Gazete Duvar, Semra Turan, Delal Akyüz, and Tolga Güney of Mezopotamya Ajansı (MA), Melike Aydın of JINNEWS, and Fatma Funda Akbulut, a press worker for the DEM Party, gave their statements at the İzmir Police Department's Anti-Terrorism Branch (TEM) on allegations of being members of a terrorist organization.
The journalists were asked about their relationships with each other and whether they participated in organizational activities together. They were also questioned about the workers' protests at the Bergama Agrobay factory, news stories about the March 8 protest in Konak Square in İzmir, and their social media posts.
Lawyers from various organizations, including Nehir Bilece of İHD, lawyers from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), and lawyers from the ÖHD İzmir branch, accompanied the journalists during their statements. The journalists are expected to be brought before the prosecutor tomorrow as the statement proceedings continue.
The lawyers accompanying the statements stated that the journalists were detained due to their "journalistic activities." News stories such as press releases, environmental impact reports, workers' resistance, and environmental and ecological news were considered as part of "organizational activities." The questions posed to the journalists included one year's worth of retrospective phone records, conversations with journalists, environmental rights advocates, academics dismissed by statutory decrees, party representatives, and lawyers.
Questions posed to the journalists:
1. Do you have membership in any political party, association, or union that operates legally or illegally? Please explain.
2. Have you previously been subject to legal proceedings by security forces? Please explain.
3. Do you have a passport and driver's license? Have you traveled abroad in any capacity? Please explain. Response: I do not have a passport or driver's license. I have not traveled abroad.
4. Do you have social media accounts? If so, what are they, and for what purpose do you use them? Please explain.
5. Do you know the individuals named Tolga Güney, Delal Akyüz, Melike Aydın, Cihan Başakçıoğlu, and Fatma Funda Akbulut, who are suspects in the same investigation as you? Have you engaged in any organizational activities with these individuals? Please explain.
6. Questions about the workers' protests at the Bergama Agrobay factory, news stories about the March 8 protest in Konak Square in İzmir, and their social media posts.
