Ahmet Sik is facing an investigation after he criticised the judges and police officers who handled his case.
UPDATE: Journalist facing more charges in wake of his release (BIANET, 30 July 2012)
(BIANET/IFEX) – 21 March 2012 – Journalist Ahmet Sik is facing an investigation for statements he made to the press when he was released from prison. He is alleged to have identified judges and prosecutors as a target.
The investigation was launched by Special Authority Public Chief Prosecutor Muammer Akkas as a result of statements Sik made when he was leaving the Silivri Prison in the evening of 12 March. According to the Sabah daily, Prosecutor Akkas initiated the investigation against Sik on allegations that he was “threatening and identifying judges and prosecutors as targets to terror organizations”. The prosecutor’s office has asked the Istanbul Police Directorate to supply video records of the statements Sik gave to the press when he left the prison.
Sik was a defendant in the Oda TV trial and was released pending trial on 12 March, after 375 days in detention. Also released were journalists Nedim Sener, Coskun Musluk and Sait Cakır.
In a statement made to the press after he left prison, Sik said, “Incomplete justice is not going to bring justice and democracy. About one hundred journalists are still in prison. Just related to my trial there are five detainees. The issue of freedom of expression is not only a problem of journalists. There are approximately 600 students. We are going to continue the struggle. The police officers, prosecutors and judges who plotted and carried out this complot will go to prison. Justice will be served when they enter this prison.”
