Kanal D Ankara bureau chief released from custody

ANKARA

Private television channel Kanal D’s Ankara Bureau Chief Erhan Karadağ. Hürriyet Photo

Private television channel Kanal D’s Ankara Bureau Chief Erhan Karadağ was one of many taken into custody in the Tunalı district of the Turkish capital city, where thousands gathered for anti-government demonstrations which were triggered by government plans for a replica Ottoman-era barracks housing shops or apartments in Istanbul’s Taksim Square.

Around 5.30 a.m. on June 2, Karadağ posted a message to his Twitter account saying, “I’m under custody at the Ankara Police Department on charges of support to demonstrators.”

Soon after Karadağ’s situation was heard of, lawyers and his colleagues from Kanal D went to the Anti-Terror Unit of the Ankara Police Department. Afterwards, the Justice Ministry also intervened in the situation. Eventually, Karadağ was able to meet with his lawyers. He was released around 1 p.m. after being sent to the prosecutor’s office and interrogated. Reportedly, Karadağ was taken into custody because he attempted to carry water and milk to his friends among the demonstrators.

This was reportedly considered a “support to demonstrators.”

The demonstrations in Ankara lasted until early morning. Around 7-8 p.m. on June 1, police gradually withdrew from the Kızılay Square in downtown Ankara, while at the same time continuing to throw pepper gas toward demonstrators.

Toward midnight, police launched a stronger clampdown, with intense use of pepper gas. Some demonstrators took shelter in bars on the Sakarya Street around the Kızılay Square and police reportedly raided these bars and took them into custody.