CHP’s Yarkadaş: Release Gökmen Ulu now the indictment is ready

The indictment has been drafted on the 130^th day of the operation against Sözcü newspaper. With the indictment drafted by Istanbul Republic Chief Prosecution having come to public attention, an appeal has come from CHP Istanbul MP Barış Yarkadaş.

The CHP’s Yarkadaş commented as follows:

“Sözcü newspaper’s indictment is ready at last. Mediha Olgun and Gökmen Ulu were detained following the operation staged a full 130 days ago. Mediha Olgun walked to freedom a few days ago. Now it is the turn of Gökmen, who has been held in Silivri for 130 days.

Our journalist colleague Gökmen Ulu is crippled by serious health problems in jail. His asthma attacks have started to increase.”

The CHP’s Yarkadaş continued as follows:

“Gökmen was brought to the Yedikule Hospital for Chest Disease the day before yesterday. His health problems were identified. He needs to be treated as an inpatient. However, the hospital has given an appointment two months later. How is Gökmen to spend these two months in jail? Yedikule Hospital has acknowledged the existence of a problem. So, Gökmen's ‘discretionary’ release to accompany the indictment will assuage public opinion and increase trust in justice.

There is clearly no suspicion that Gökmen, who, on learning that he was to be arrested, awaited the police at home for six hours and did not budge at all, will flee or tamper with evidence. It would thus be beneficial for the state of detention that has now become truly pointless to be ended. Gökmen’s only chance to enable him to be restored to heath is through treatment at a fully equipped hospital. I hope that the judiciary will look favourably on this humanitarian request.”