Hundreds gather in front of Silivri Prison to protest media crackdown

Chef Oktay Usta distributed aşure to those joined a protest in front of the Silivri Prison. (Photo: Today's Zaman)
Chef Oktay Usta distributed aşure to those joined a protest in front of the Silivri Prison. (Photo: Today's Zaman)


Date posted: January 1, 2015

Hundreds of people gathered in front of Silivri Prison on Saturday to protest the detention of Samanyolu Broadcasting Group General Manager Hidayet Karaca, who is being held in custody in the prison as part of a government-orchestrated police operation targeting journalists, scriptwriters and police officers.

Many of the protesters told Today’s Zaman why they had decided to come. Standing with the protesters, Today’s Zaman Editor-in-Chief Bülent Keneş said that Turkey’s image is being harmed by the government’s assault on the media, freedom of speech and democracy. Zaman daily Deputy Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Kamış described the gathering as a democratic protest held to fight tyranny and oppression and that people are peacefully raising their voices to protest the illegal arrest of Karaca. Aksiyon weekly Editor-in-Chief and Today’s Zaman columnist Bülent Korucu added that people are gathering at Silivri despite the cold weather to support democracy and freedoms.

Stating that the other branches of government should not interfere with the judiciary, Samanyolu TV news anchor Kemal Gülen said that if judges were to rule according to what they really believe to be true, Karaca’s innocence would be revealed. Gülen added that Karaca should not be accused of terrorism because he has never in his life been involved in terrorist activities. Professor Savaş Genç from Fatih University remarked that the Hizmet movement — a faith-based civil society organization with which Samanyolu and Zaman are affiliated — is known for its peaceful message and yet is being maligned with charges of terrorism. Genç added that the move was neither acceptable nor logical.

Turkish chef and television presenter Oktay Aymelek, who is popular for his kindness, knowledge and liveliness in the kitchen during his shows, was also present at the protest. Aymelek cooked aşure (Noah’s pudding) and distributed it to the protesters in a reference to the Turkish tradition of sharing dessert with others as a sign of unity under one creator and God’s mercy.

Karaca’s wife, Şule Karaca, described her husband as someone who helps others in need and that he has never engaged in any act that could hurt anyone. Stating that people around the world have called her family to express their support, she said, “God willing, this aşure will help achieve our salvation.”

Karaca’s son, Sıdkı, a law student, said that the terrorism accusations directed at his father are comical and baseless. “In today’s Turkey, anybody can be accused of terrorism and imprisoned like my father. Now, there is no guarantee [of the right to freedom] in law,” he said.

Karaca, Zaman Editor-in-Chief Ekrem Dumanlı and a number of other journalists, scriptwriters, producers and police officers were detained on Dec. 14 in a major crackdown on the media. Karaca was subsequently arrested on Dec. 19 on suspicion of heading a terrorist group, based on a TV series that was broadcast years ago by Samanyolu TV. Three former police officers who had been detained were also arrested while the other suspects, including Dumanlı, were released pending trial.

Source: Today's Zaman , December 28, 2014


Related News

Mysteries, and a Crackdown, Persist a Year After a Failed Coup in Turkey

Mr. Erdogan’s own statements have also raised questions about the sequence of events. In an account posted on the president’s website, Mr. Erdogan said he was first warned of unusual military activity at 4:30 p.m. by his brother-in-law. He tried to contact Mr. Fidan and Mr. Akar around 5 p.m., he said but was unable to reach either of them.

[Part 5] Gülen says ballot box is not everything in a democracy

Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, who has inspired the popular civic and social movement called Hizmet, said the ballot box is not everything, urging his followers to not stick to only one but to cast their votes freely based on their personal conviction. He added that focusing on the ballot box only makes some people comfortable in telling lies.

Fresh political raids targets leading Turkish NGO Kimse Yok Mu

Police teams from the Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime division stormed the office of UN member NGO Kimse Yok Mu’s branch in Turkey’s northwestern province of Kocaeli on Wednesday in the latest political raid to sweep the country.

Why won’t Obama extradite Gulen?

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he had complained to President Barack Obama about Fethullah Gulen in phone conversation. Erdogan added that Obama had responded favorably. The White House retorted in unusual language, telling journalists: “The response attributed to President Obama is not accurate.”

Bank Asya fights back against Erdogan attack

The government’s 10-month attack on Bank Asya has seen its share price slump by 50%, with the stock periodically prevented from trading on the Borsa, Istanbul’s stock exchange. The turmoil surrounding the bank has seen the failure of an agreed deal with the Qatar Islamic Bank, and an unwanted government-led attempt by state-owned deposit bank Ziraat, which recently created an Islamic unit, to absorb the privately owned Bank Asya.

Row between Turkish government and Gulen Movement takes new twist

The row between Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and Fethullah Gulen’s Hizmet Movement, one of the most influential religious communities in the country, has taken an interesting twist after the revelation of a 2004 document. In 2004, the National Security Council proposed a clampdown on the Gulen movement (aka Hizmet), which suggested that harsh sanctions should be enforced on them.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Kimse Yok Mu medical volunteers in the Philippines

The Anatolians are coming

Today’s Zaman Editor-in-Chief Bülent Keneş released pending trial

Gezi anniversary reminder of Erdogan’s nine lives

Media Imposes Official Ideology, Creating Negative non-Muslim Image

Avni: New plot under way to blame Gülen movement for PKK attacks

An Indian professor’s reflections on Erdogan’s visit to India, crackdown on Gulen movement

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News