A Turkish court on Thursday ruled for the arrest of four journalists affiliated with the Etkin News Agency (ETHA).
The arrestees — Semiha Şahin, Pınar Gayıp, Ferhat Harun Pehlivan, Gülsen İmre — are accused of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “spreading propaganda on behalf of a terrorist organization.”
Turkey is the biggest jailer of journalists in the world, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) . There are currently a total of 235 journalists are under arrest pending trial, while 24 have been convicted.
The Turkish government also closed down more than 180 media outlets after a failed coup on July 15, 2016.
Müvekkillerimiz Etkin Haber Ajansı editörü Semiha Şahin, muhabiri Pınar Gayıp ile Ferhat Harun Pehlivan ve Gülsen İmre tutuklandı. pic.twitter.com/sjG2A7MmdM
— EzilenlerinHukuku (@EzilenlerinHB) April 19, 2018
#SONDAKIKA
Editörümüz Semiha Şahin ve muhabirimiz Pınar Gayıp tutuklandı.#ETHAiçin pic.twitter.com/v6z5o2Uqcq— ETHA (@etkinhaberajans) April 19, 2018