2017: Turkey: Oğuz Güven
Oğuz Güven, web editor of Cumhuriyet in Turkey, was arrested on 12th May 2017. He is charged with “Committing a crime in the name of a terrorist organisation” after publishing an online report on the death of public prosecutor Mustafa Alper.
Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdağ
Ministry of Justice
Milli Müdafa Caddesi
06659 Kızılay-Ankara
Republic of Turkey
Oslo 19th May 2017
Dear Minister,
Norwegian PEN is deeply concerned about the welfare of Oğuz Güven who was arrested on 12th May 2017.
The web editor of Cumhuriyet has been charged under article 220/6 of Turkey’s Penal Code “Committing a crime in the name of a terrorist organisation” after publishing an online report on the death of public prosecutor Mustafa Alper.
Norwegian PEN calls on the Turkish authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Oğuz Güven and all of his detained colleagues from Cumhuriyet, as they are being held imprisoned solely in connection with their peaceful exercise of their right to expression.
We furthermore call on Turkish authorities to protect freedom of expression and human rights by ending the prosecution and detention of journalists based on the content of their writings or their alleged affiliations.
Yours sincerely,
Ms Johanne Fronth-Nygren
Member of Writers in Prison Committee
Norwegian PEN
COPY:
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım
Minister of Interior Affairs Selim Soylu
The Turkish Embassy in Norway
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
