Image Hurriyet Daily News

Image Hurriyet Daily News

 

Midnight Express is on my list of most powerful movies seen young, so maybe I’m adding a layer of horror … but I don’t believe an extra one is necessary. Just add a local lady journalist with a problem with blatant corruption.

No journalist should have to defend herself like this: “Turkey must not busy itself with my tweets. We must consider on whether there is a corruption or not.” Particularly when the corruption investigation pinning President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s political opponent, exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen. Who was last Friday pushed back on again regarding his American extradition, according to Reuters.

(Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Friday he expected a request to be made to the U.S. authorities for the extradition of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused by President Tayyip Erdogan of leading a plot to seize power.

From online Turkish news source Hurriyet Daily, comes the story of Sedef Kabaş, summarily not just warned or fired for a deemed impolitic Tweet … she is looking at up to five years in a Turkish prison. Brava, she is still chirping. Read more of her trials via the AFP here.

 

 

"No Fear"  in Paris, Image, Stuff New Zealand

“No Fear” in Paris, Image, Stuff New Zealand

 

We are journalists. Someone comes and says to me ‘be careful and don’t write everything.’ Journalism is my job. If I don’t use the power of the word, it means I am not doing my job well. Why should I threaten, insult or target anyone? I am the person who writes something without violating someone’s personal rights.

 

Which, no matter how Fvx were to slant the tale if even noted never mind reported on, Amen cannot look tremendously different from the scarifyingly real jail with the authenticity conferred by its role in Midnight Express.

[And Oliver Stone was but a wee lad with a sling-shot, the 30th edition is well out.]
Image courtesy @banksy

Image courtesy @banksy

 

Prosecutors seek up to five years of imprisonment for Turkish journalist and anchorwoman Sedef Kabaş for her tweet in which she called on citizens not to forget the name of the judge who dropped the Dec. 17, 2013 corruption probe that involved high-profile names and former Cabinet members.

An indictment has been prepared by the prosecutors on charges of “targeting people involved in the fight against terrorism and making threats,” which is punishable with jail time from one-and-a-half years to five years.

Now Billy Hayes was given four years and then another thirty for good Turkish measure; they were ever so fond of Richard Nixon and his slick policies in the day.

According to the source, the anchorwoman was but suggesting a historical remembrance. Which is apparently now illegal to Tweet in Turkey by punishment in an actual Turkish Prison.

Not The Martha Stewart Penance and Republican Gubernatorial Correctional Estates.

“Do not forget the name of the judge who decided not to pursue the proceedings in the Dec. 17 probe,” Kabaş tweeted. She was referring to a massive graft probe which was officially dropped on Dec. 16 when the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office rejected an objection to its decision to not pursue proceedings in the case.

Kabaş was detained on Dec. 30 at her house, after which police started to search the dwelling. Kabaş told news website Radikal that she was detained on charges of “targeting people who are involved in anti-terror operations.”

Imagine Nicole having Tweeted something critical of, say, Allan West via Twitter … and On Air and maybe even in person? Bam! Midnight Express induced phobia every damn day.

Freedom of speech is the newest natural high to depress upon first sighting.