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Turkey Frees Two British Journalists With Vice News Turkey Frees Two British Journalists With Vice News
(35 minutes later)
Two British journalists who were arrested by Turkish authorities last week have been released, a lawyer representing the men said on Thursday, but a local journalist who was assisting them remained in jail.Two British journalists who were arrested by Turkish authorities last week have been released, a lawyer representing the men said on Thursday, but a local journalist who was assisting them remained in jail.
Tahir Elci, the head of the Diyarbakir Bar Association in southeast Turkey, wrote in an email that Jake Hanrahan, a freelance journalist, and Philip Pendlebury, a cameraman, had been released hours after it was reported that they were being moved to a remote prison.Tahir Elci, the head of the Diyarbakir Bar Association in southeast Turkey, wrote in an email that Jake Hanrahan, a freelance journalist, and Philip Pendlebury, a cameraman, had been released hours after it was reported that they were being moved to a remote prison.
Mr. Elci said that he would appeal to a Turkish court on behalf of Mohammed Ismael Rasool, a Turkish journalist who was assisting Mr. Hanrahan and Mr. Pendlebury, who were on assignment for Vice News. Mr. Elci said that he would appeal to a Turkish court on behalf of Mohammed Ismael Rasool, an Iraqi journalist based in Turkey who was assisting Mr. Hanrahan and Mr. Pendlebury, who were on assignment for Vice News.
In a statement Thursday, Vice News said that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office had confirmed the release of the two British journalists.In a statement Thursday, Vice News said that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office had confirmed the release of the two British journalists.
The journalists were filming in the mostly Kurdish southeastern region on Aug. 27 when they were detained by Turkish authorities in the city of Diyarbakir. They were later charged with aiding an armed terrorist organization, though Turkish authorities did not specify which group.The journalists were filming in the mostly Kurdish southeastern region on Aug. 27 when they were detained by Turkish authorities in the city of Diyarbakir. They were later charged with aiding an armed terrorist organization, though Turkish authorities did not specify which group.
Mr. Elci said earlier this week that the three had been accused of having links to the Islamic State and the YDG-H, a group affiliated with the separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party, often referred to as the P.K.K., its Turkish initials.Mr. Elci said earlier this week that the three had been accused of having links to the Islamic State and the YDG-H, a group affiliated with the separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party, often referred to as the P.K.K., its Turkish initials.
Yonni Usiskin, a supervising producer for Vice News, denied the accusations against the three men. Another lawyer, Ahmet Ay, said the claims that the journalists were affiliated with the Islamic State were “totally untrue.”Yonni Usiskin, a supervising producer for Vice News, denied the accusations against the three men. Another lawyer, Ahmet Ay, said the claims that the journalists were affiliated with the Islamic State were “totally untrue.”
Activists have said that the arrests of the three men are an example of an increasingly hostile climate for journalists in Turkey. Journalists seeking to cover the activities of groups that have been classified by the Turkish government as terrorist organizations, including the P.K.K., have often faced imprisonment, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.Activists have said that the arrests of the three men are an example of an increasingly hostile climate for journalists in Turkey. Journalists seeking to cover the activities of groups that have been classified by the Turkish government as terrorist organizations, including the P.K.K., have often faced imprisonment, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Mr. Rasool, the Turkish journalist, had his appeal for release rejected by the Turkish government, Vice News said in a statement on Thursday. Mr. Rasool, the Iraqi journalist, had his appeal for release rejected by the Turkish government, Vice News said in a statement on Thursday.
”We call on the Turkish authorities for a swift end to this unjust detainment and to grant his immediate release,” the statement said.”We call on the Turkish authorities for a swift end to this unjust detainment and to grant his immediate release,” the statement said.
Journalists and free-press advocates used the hashtag #freevicenewsstaff to continue to campaign for his release.Journalists and free-press advocates used the hashtag #freevicenewsstaff to continue to campaign for his release.
On Wednesday, Robert Mahoney, the deputy director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, expressed alarm at what he called a “worsening press freedom climate” in Turkey. Days after Mr. Hanrahan, Mr. Pendlebury and Mr. Rasool were detained, Turkish authorities raided the offices of Koza Ipek Holding, a company that owns several news media outlets, some of which have been critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.On Wednesday, Robert Mahoney, the deputy director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, expressed alarm at what he called a “worsening press freedom climate” in Turkey. Days after Mr. Hanrahan, Mr. Pendlebury and Mr. Rasool were detained, Turkish authorities raided the offices of Koza Ipek Holding, a company that owns several news media outlets, some of which have been critical of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Mr. Erdogan, who, along with his Justice and Development Party, faces an uphill battle in parliamentary elections in November, has accused Koza Ipek’s groups of being affiliated with Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic cleric and critic of Mr. Erdogan. The company’s chairman has denied any wrongdoing.Mr. Erdogan, who, along with his Justice and Development Party, faces an uphill battle in parliamentary elections in November, has accused Koza Ipek’s groups of being affiliated with Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic cleric and critic of Mr. Erdogan. The company’s chairman has denied any wrongdoing.
Mr. Hanrahan, who has also reported for The Guardian, HBO and Rolling Stone, had recently embedded with a P.K.K. youth group for a Vice News report. He was documenting growing violence spurred by the killing of Ümit Kurt, a Kurdish youth, by Turkish special forces in Cizre, a town on the border with Syria.Mr. Hanrahan, who has also reported for The Guardian, HBO and Rolling Stone, had recently embedded with a P.K.K. youth group for a Vice News report. He was documenting growing violence spurred by the killing of Ümit Kurt, a Kurdish youth, by Turkish special forces in Cizre, a town on the border with Syria.
“We’re worried that the Turkish state will inflict more tragedies on us,” the boy’s mother said. “Things are so hopeless, we may as well set ourselves on fire.”“We’re worried that the Turkish state will inflict more tragedies on us,” the boy’s mother said. “Things are so hopeless, we may as well set ourselves on fire.”