A Turkish journalist is facing criticism for his response to a German official’s comments regarding the recent arrest of another journalist. The case has sparked debate about press freedom and the role of international observers in Turkish legal matters.
Fatih Altaylı criticized Ahmet Hakan, the editor-in-chief of Hürriyet newspaper, for his reaction to German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer’s statement concerning the detention of Alican Uludağ. Uludağ was arrested on accusations of insulting the Turkish president.
Altaylı questioned Hakan’s silence, stating, “You are right, Ahmet brother, the German Minister may not have the right to say anything about this. But you have the right to say something about it. You have the right to advocate for journalist Alican Uludağ to be tried without pre-trial detention at the very least. You have the right to demand that the trial be held in Ankara, since the alleged crime was committed there, and both the perpetrator and the complainant reside there.”
He continued, “Perhaps if you defended Alican Uludağ, there would be no need for an irrelevant German to defend him, and the German Minister would not overstep his bounds. Have you ever considered saying, writing that Alican Uludağ should at least be tried without pre-trial detention?”
“WHAT ABOUT THE SPANISH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT?”
Altaylı further challenged Hakan, asking, “You are not German, you are sensitive about Gaza. You have the right to stand up for a journalist. Will you use that right? Or do you think Alican Uludağ should be arrested? Of course, you can think that too. I can’t say anything about that. That is also a freedom. We cannot interfere.”
He also pointed out that a Spanish parliament member had also defended Uludağ, noting that the Spanish government has taken a firmer stance against Israel than Turkey, refusing to allow its ships to dock in its ports and condemning the violence in Gaza. “You are right, the German Minister has no face to make pronouncements on these matters. But what about the Spanish member of parliament, Ahmet brother?”
WHAT HAPPENED?
The exchange began after Ahmet Hakan criticized Wolfram Weimer for speaking out against Uludağ’s arrest.
Hakan had stated, “In determining that Alican Uludağ should be tried without pre-trial detention, I would like to say the following to this German Minister: Someone who hasn’t uttered a single word about the journalists murdered in Gaza… Someone who hasn’t held accountable the journalist being starved in his own country for writing about Gaza… Someone who doesn’t treat those beaten and detained at Gaza protests in Berlin like human beings… A German minister has no face to lecture others.”
