Why is Turkey wasting its time arresting peace advocates?
The arrest of renowned author Asli Erdogan on terrorism charges generates questions about Turkey's arbitrary use of emergency law.
On Aug. 16, Ozgur Gundem, one of the few remaining independent news outlets in Turkey, was closed by a decision from Istanbul's 8th Court of Peace. Pro-government newspaper Sabah reported the news as “PKK’s [Kurdistan Workers Party] newspaper is shut down. It was a tool for both the PKK" and followers of self-exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen. Police raided the offices of Ozgur Gundem and the homes of several columnists and staff and detained them.
Some employees were taken into custody for “spreading terror propaganda,” according to the official explanations.
The reports from the raids were quite scary. For example, editorial cartoonist Dogan Guzel was photographed in handcuffs being pulled out of the building with a torn T-shirt and bruises and marks on his face and body.
Twenty-four journalists from Ozgur Gundem, IMC TV and DIHA news agency were taken into custody, including Asli Erdogan, a renowned author, human rights activist and columnist. Erdogan was named one of PEN International's "most promising 50 authors of tomorrow” and has received multiple prestigious literary awards.
