During a TV broadcast on Turkey’s opposition-owned Halk TV on Monday, journalist Aysenur Arslan questioned the way the attack on the Turkish interior ministry’s general security directorate in Ankara was carried out. Arslan questioned the way the attack was carried out and said the way the assailants died without inflicting significant damage was meaningless.
On Tuesday, Turkish police detained Arslan, with Istanbul’s chief prosecutor’s office stating that she was arrested for “Terrorist organization propaganda” and “praising crime and criminals.”
"As journalists, we ask our questions and sometimes we may have to explain why those questions were asked. I think I explained," Arslan told journalists following her release.
Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Institution (RTUK) on Tuesday said it has launched an investigation into both Halk TV and Arslan over her remarks.
“It is impossible for us to tolerate this immoral terrorism-loving mentality and these strange comments on the screens,” RTUK head Ebubekir Sahin said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Halk TV owner Cafer Mahiroglu apologized to the Turkish public for Arslan’s comments on X and announced the cancellation of her TV show.
The People’s Defense Forces (HPG), the military arm of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), on Monday claimed responsibility for Ankara’s attack. The attack, described as a suicide bombing, was carried out by a HPG unit named Brigade of Immortals, according to the group’s statement.
The PKK is an armed group struggling for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey and designated a terrorist organization by Ankara.
On Tuesday morning, the Turkish security forces arrested at least 90 people for alleged ties with the PKK. The arrest operations continued on Wednesday morning as Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the arrest of 37 others.
Under Turkish law, publicly expressing admiration for groups labeled as "terrorists" can result in imprisonment for a period of three to five years. The act of "praising" includes showing support for such groups in public gatherings, chanting, displaying their logos and signs, or wearing clothing with their logos, pictures, or signs.
If indicted, Arslan faces being sentenced to a penalty of imprisonment for a term of up to three years under the Turkish penal code.
