Information
Equipo Nizkor
        Bookshop | Donate
Derechos | Equipo Nizkor       

08Aug17


Spain Arrests Writer on Turkish Order Alleging Terrorism


Spanish police said Tuesday they have arrested a Turkish-Swedish reporter and writer in Barcelona on an international arrest order from Turkey for alleged terrorism.

 

Barcelona National Police spokesman Jose Antonio Nin said Hamza Yalcin was detained at Barcelona airport Aug. 3 and is now being held pending an extradition hearing. He said Yalcin has been handed over to National Court authorities.

Jonathan Lundqvist, head of the Swedish branch of Reporters Without Borders, said the arrest was an attempt by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to show "he can reach critical voices even if they are not in the country."

Lundqvist said Yalcin has written in the magazine Odak Dergisi – which is critical of the Turkish regime – since he fled to Sweden in 1984. He said Spain has now to decide whether to hand him to Turkey where "over 100 other journalists have been charged by the Erdogan regime for similar crimes."

"This is worrying that exiled journalists can be arrested," he told The Associated Press.

Elisabeth Asbrink, chairwoman of the Swedish branch of writers' association PEN International, called for the release of Yalcin as well of another Swedish citizen, IT consultant Ali Gharavi, who was arrested July 5 while attending a seminar about freedom of the internet in Turkey.

"It is obvious that Turkey and President Erdogan show a lack of respect for EU citizens. Sweden must of course do everything to ensure the release of these two and it is urgent," said Asbrink.

[Source: The New York Times, AP, Madrid, 08Aug17]

Bookshop Donate Radio Nizkor

State of Exception
small logoThis document has been published on 10Aug17 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.