Turkish journalist hiding in safe house condemns government crackdown
On Monday, dozens of Turkish journalists got the news that there were warrants for their arrest.
In the continuing crackdown after the failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish government issued arrest warrants for forty-two prominent journalists.
The government should get used to being criticized. That is a fact of democracy.- Bülent Mumay
One of them is freelance journalist Bülent Mumay.
He spoke to As It Happens guest host Helen Mann from a safe house in Istanbul. Here is part of their conversation:
Helen Mann: Do you think police are looking for you right now?
Bülent Mumay: Yes. They searched my old house. They thought I was still living there. At 4 o'clock in the morning they went to my old house and they couldn't find me.
HM: Are you concerned about your family and your friends?
BM: My friends, yes. Because when they use your name in a bad case they are also trying to make your friends dirty and trying to break down their reputation too.
I know that if they arrest me it won't just be the first stop. They will do more. They will arrest more.
HM: Do you think you'll be able to work freely as a journalist again in Turkey?
BM: I hope so.
HM: What do you want people and governments outside Turkey to know right now?
BM: Journalists are not the enemy of the system. They are working for the public. They are not terrorists, they are not supporting any military coup. The government should get used to being criticized. That is a fact of democracy.
To hear Bülent Mumay's story and what he plans to do next, listen to our full interview.