Bittersweet release after nine months: We still have four colleagues to collect from Silivri

The interim judgment in the Cumhuriyet trial ordered the release of seven of our colleagues and the continued detention of four of our colleagues. Güray Öz, Musa Kart, Bülent Utku Hakan Kara, Önder Çelik Mustafa Kemal Güngör and Turhan Günay, whose release was ordered, walked free from Silivri Prison where they had been held in detention.

Yayınlanma: 29.07.2017 - 13:24
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The seven Cumhuriyet staff whose release was ordered by the court had their first taste of freedom for nine months. The Cumhuriyet staff, having emerged from Silivri Prison in the late hours of yesterday evening, were met by their families, friends and colleagues. Musa Kart said, ‘I cannot say that I am very happy. I hope that we will collect our four friends from Silivri, too, as soon as possible. We will create the best photograph all together.’ With Hakan Kara stressing that they were experiencing bittersweet happiness, Turhan Günay said, ‘Unfortunately, we have left four friends inside and we know that they, too, will come out.’

Our cartoonist Musa Kart’s first comment: We will collect our four friends from Silivri, too
Our cartoonist Musa Kart, walking to freedom after nine months, said, ‘We remained in detention for nine months on unjust, unlawful and unfounded charges. We were kept apart from our loved ones, relatives and wives. Our lawyer colleagues call this arbitrary detention. But, believe me, we did not fill our hearts with rancour and anger over this time. We were incapable of experiencing such thoughts. The indictment that wished to connect Cumhuriyet to the FETO terrorist organisation is dead in the water. I also stated in my defence that this indictment has died. But, those who do humour within the bounds of good taste know that you don’t touch one who has fallen. Had an unprejudiced examination, study and indictment been compiled, it would have been seen that it defies imagination to connect a newspaper that has criticised terrorist organisations, not least FETO, in the harshest manner with terrorist organisations. To be honest, I thought I would be very happy the moment I was released. But, I cannot say that I am very happy today. Unfortunately, four of our friends are still incarcerated in Silivri Prison. I do not think that the image of journalists in prison is one that becomes this country. I wish and hope that we will collect these four friends of ours from Silivri, too. We will create the best photograph all together. There has been wonderful solidarity both at home and abroad from the first day. We have been relaxed from the first day because we believed ourselves to be in the right, and we have seen that people know us to be in the right. We thank you all’


Mustafa Kemal Güngör: These injustices will end
Walking free, Mustafa Kemal Güngör said, ‘I was in the same cell as Murat Sabuncu and Akın Atalay and on my way out they conveyed greetings to all of you. Kadri Gürsel and Ahmet Şık also send their greetings. I am sure that they, too, will be together with us before long. These injustices and this lawlessness will end. I thank you all. Thanks and stick in there.’


Hakan Kara: All the charges in the indictment have been proven to be untruthful
Hakan Kara commented as he walked free from Silivri Prison, ‘If you ask any journalist, “Which is the newspaper that has fought the most against FETO?” they will say, “Cumhuriyet.” Cumhuriyet has been fighting FETO for forty years. I have witnessed 34 years of this. You cannot place Cumhuriyet alongside FETO. All the charges in the indictment have been proven to be untruthful. Public opinion in its entirety has seen this, too. We are happy to be coming out, but it comes with a bitter taste, because four of our friends are on the inside. We will pick them up here, too, before long.’
Turhan Günay: Our four friends will come out, too

Turhan Günay said, ‘Unfortunately, we have left four of our friends on the inside. We know they will come out. One of them is Kadri. I was in the same cell as Musa Kart and Kadri Gürsel. We hope they will come out.’


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