ISTANBUL: Turkey arrested the local representative of international rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on “terrorist propaganda” charges on Monday, in the latest crackdown on the media in the country.
Erol Onderoglu as well as journalist Ahmet Nesin and rights activist and academic Sebnem Korur Fincanci, were charged after taking part in a campaign of solidarity with a pro-Kurdish newspaper in May.
RSF swiftly condemned the charging and detention of the three in a post on Twitter.
“Unbelievable low for press freedom in Turkey. Free Erol!” said the tweet from the Paris-based organisation’s eastern Europe and central Asia desk.
About 100 people rallied at the Istanbul courthouse to support the three as they were sent to pre-trial detention, chanting, “We will not bow to pressure”.
Published in Dawn, June 21th, 2016
