OSCE calls on Turkey to release two arrested journalists over high court ruling

ANKARA

Organization for Security and co-Operation in Europe(OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir sent a letter to Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Jan 17 for the release of two arrested journalists, Şahin Alpay and Mehmet Altan, over the Constitutional Court’s decision that was not implemented by a lower court.

“This refusal to implement the Constitutional Court decision is of grave concern, as it is related to the freedom of individuals, in that case of two journalists. It seriously infringes upon their rights including freedom of expression and freedom to work as journalists, which should be protected by the rule of law,” Désir said in a statement on Jan 17.

“I call on the authorities to ensure that the Constitutional Court decision of 11 January 2018 in the cases of Altan and Alpay is implemented and that they are released without any further delay,” she added.

Désir’s letter to Çavuşoğlu demanded the release of two scribes, the OSCE said.

According to the decision of the Constitutional Court, which was published on 11 January 2018, the ongoing detention of Altan and Alpay is disproportionate and infringing upon their rights to liberty, freedom of expression and freedom of the media. The Representative welcomed the Constitutional Court’s decision as a milestone in protecting the rights and freedoms of journalists in Turkey, the OSCE also stressed.