Journalist faces 43 years imprisonment for revealing state documents

Turkey has been going through another scandal for the last few days after journalist Mehmet Baransu revealed reports on a confidential National Security Council (MGK) document that mentioned a planned crackdown on faith-based groups in the country.

Starting last month, the Taraf daily newspaper  published several confidential documents suggesting which allegedly showed that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) had profiled individuals linked to some religious and faith-based groups, in Turkey. AK Party first admitted the authenticity of the documents but argued that no action was taken to implement the policy prescriptions indicated therein.

However, right after that the Prime Ministry, MİT and the National Security Council (MGK) filed a joint criminal complaint against the daily and Baransu for revealing confidential state documents. Based on the complaint which immediately turned into an investigation against Baransu, the jourmalist is now accused of acquiring confidential documents crucial to state security as well as unveiling information that is forbidden to announce, in other words political and military espionage in which case he may end up in prison for a period of 43 years meximum.

This development has received harsh criticism from Turkish and foreign journalist associations and been considered to be a severe blow to free press.

In a country where “ADVANCED DEMOCRACY” is supposed to be prveailin – as often expresssed by the head of government – all parties to include press associations have held their breath waiting for whatever is to come.

06.12.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA, compiled by Editor