Turkish NY Correspondent Razi Canikligil Detained for his articles and tweets
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Turkish journalist Razi Canikligil, the New York and United Nations correspondent for Turkey’s Hurriyet Daily News, was detained at Istanbul airport upon returning to the country from the United States, Hurriyet reported.
Canikligil was covering the case of Turkish national Reza Zarrab, who has been charged in the United States with violating US sanctions against Iran.
“Hurriyet newspaper New York [correspondent] Razi Canikligil detained at Ataturk Airport. Details coming,” the newspaper reported on Monday.
US attorneys have noted that Zarrab has financial ties to the wife of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Earlier on Monday, a Turkish judge ordered three editors of the Kurdish daily Ozgur Gundem held on terrorism charges.
According to the US-based media rights organization Committee to Protect Journalists, Turkey jails more journalists than any other nation.
STATEMENY BY UNCA
Our UNCA member and colleague from the Turkish media Hurriyet, Razi Canikligil, was arrested today in Istanbul by Turkish police under the accusation “we are told” based on articles and tweets that he wrote on Turkish authorities.
UNCA considers this a grave violation of freedom of the press, and below is the note that we sent to Stephane Dujarric requesting the intervention of the Secretary-General:
Dear Stephane,
UNCA is expressing deep concern over the arrest today in Istanbul of colleague Razi Canikligil, from Hurriet, based on articles and tweets “we are told” that he wrote regarding Turkish authorities.
We are reaffirming our position on freedom of the press around the world and are asking for an immediate intervention from the Secretary-General to facilitate his prompt release.
On behalf of the UNCA Executive Committee
Giampaolo Pioli
UNCA President