JINHA

ISTANBUL – Journalists issued a press statement regarding jailed Özgür Gündem Publication Advisory Board member and author Aslı Erdoğan. Journalists said, “I am in prison with Aslı. Holding someone, who thinks with her conscience, is the shame of the earth.” Journalists announce that they will begin to hold a vigil outside of the prison, where Aslı Erdoğan is being held, everyday starting on Monday and they call everyone to join them.

Turkish Writers' Union (TYS), Özgür Gündem stuff and journalists issued a press statement outside of sealed office regarding jailed Özgür Gündem Publication Advisory Board member and author Aslı Erdoğan. Journalists shouted slogans such as “Aslı Erdoğan is not alone” and “Pressures cannot intimidate us” in the protest. Saturday Mothers, Women's Initiative for Peace (BKG) members and many citizens joined the protest.

One of the Özgür Gündem editors Ender Öndeş said, “We are journalists, those who thinks they can silence Özgür Gündem lost. We’ll continue to publish Özgür Gündem. You caanot silence the free press is not a slogan, it is reality. Aslı comes to the daily office once in six months. Those who jailed her, knows that.”

Mukaddes Uslu from the TYS said, “Özgür Gündem faced the attacks because it reports the Kurdish people’s voice. Their first goal is to turn down the voice of the Kurdish people and then the voice of the intellectuals.”

Journalists announce that they will begin to hold a vigil outside of the prison, where Aslı Erdoğan is being held, everyday starting on Monday and they call everyone to join them.

Meanwhile, an online signature campaign has been launched demanding the release of author and Özgür Gündem columnist Aslı Erdoğan.

The campaign which aims to reach 10 thousand signatures can be reached and joined at;

https://www.change.org/p/asl%C4%B1-erdo%C4%9Fan-derhal-serbest-b%C4%B1rak%C4%B1ls%C4%B1n

(ekip/dk/gd)