Mustafa Balbay’s Search for Justice: Letters to the Media and His Compatriots in the United Kingdom

Mustafa Balbay, Member of Parliament (MP), Journalist – Writer

 Two letters from Mr. Mustafa Balbay, detained MP, journalist and writer, sent to ResearchTurkey can now be found online. Mr. Balbay asserts that he has been detained and held in prison for revenge by the government due to his journalism activities, which, he accuses for controlling the judiciary in Turkey. He also claims that their defence was not allowed adequately in the judicial process, and invites his colleagues in the British media and his compatriots in the United Kingdom to show their reaction to the ‘unlawfulness’ in Turkey, especially on 13 December 2012, the day on which the prosecutor is expected to express his legal opinion as to the accusations.  With its respect to free speech right and the presumption of innocence.

TO BRITISH PRESS

Dear Colleagues,

Given my journalism activities, I have been held in custody for 4 years in İstanbul-Silivri penitentiary. The trial that I am being judged is established inside the penitentiary specially. Turkey is moving away from the principles of “rule of law” very quickly and we fear that in the future  there will be much uncertainty of how the law will be adjudicated, will be practiced upon whom, when and, how.  Especially against the backdrop of the trials of İstanbul-Silivri, the law has been placed in the hands of the government and is being used as a tool for revenge. For example, in the ever-ongoing Ergenekon trial, there are many people from journalists to rectors, from MPs to military personnel, who have been linked to the events they have been allegedly involved with; crimes have produced out of their life styles and professions.

In this trial, there has been torture that is unprecedented even since the Middle Ages, the punishments that the prosecutor wants will be stated on December 13. We invite you to say “no to the unlawfulness in Turkey” in every venue you see fit, but especially in social media on that day.  Currently, in Turkey there are approximately 100 journalists (due to this case) held in prison.

I invite you to show your occupational solidarity with the journalists in Turkey, and wish from you to make Turkey and the world feel your sensibility.

TO OUR COMPATRIOTS IN BRITAIN,

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Turkey is moving away from the principles of “rule of law” very quickly and we fear that in the future there will be much uncertainty of how the law will be adjudicated, will be practiced upon whom, when and, how.  Especially against the backdrop of the trials of İstanbul-Silivri, the law has been placed in the hands of the government and is being used as a tool for revenge. For example, in the ever-ongoing Ergenekon trial, there are many people from journalists to rectors, from MPs to military personnel, who have been linked to the events they have been allegedly involved with; crimes have produced out of their life styles and professions. In this trial, there has been torture that is unprecedented even since the Middle Ages, the punishments that the prosecutor wants will be stated on December 13.

We invite you to say “no to the unlawfulness in Turkey” in every venue you see fit, but especially in social media on that day.

With regards,

Mustafa Balbay, Member of Parliament (MP), Journalist-Writer – Silivri Penitentiary – İstanbul

Please find below the original letters sent to ResearchTurkey (in Turkish):

http://researchturkey.org/wp/wordpress/?p=2438