Random Photos Included In 'Reasonable Suspicion' Case Against Journalist

Some random photos, including one taken at a barber, were included in an investigation file into Aytekin Gezici, a journalist who was detained after his house was searched early on Friday based on a "reasonable suspicion" clause introduced in a new government judicial package that has yet to be approved in Parliament.

Gezici and his lawyer, Yusuf Özer, held a press conference on the topic of his detention at the headquarters of the Çukurova Journalists' Community (ÇGC) in Adana on Monday. Gezici said the investigation file that detained him based on “reasonable suspicion” is a black mark on the history of Turkish law.

Indicating that the police raided his home early on Friday based on a bill that is not yet a law, Gezici defined what he experienced as tragicomic and unlawful.

He shared some details about the evidence against him that was included in the investigation file. “A photo that I shared via Facebook on Sept. 29 while I was having a shave at a barber was found to [show evidence] of something criminal. Furthermore, I had shared a photo with a caption saying ‘just a little break' on Sept. 13 while I was working. In this photo, coffee, some halva, soda, a bottle of cologne and some part of a computer screen and keyboard can be seen. This photo was also included in the investigation file as criminal evidence. I wonder if they don't like the coffee. Where is the crime? I could not understand,” he said.

The journalist also said that a photo that he took together with his son was also present in the investigation file against him. The experienced journalist started crying while talking to reporters during the press conference. “I posed for the cameras with my son, Emir, on July 18,” he said. “They even put this photo in the file as criminal evidence. I'm asking [you] high-ranking state officials, ‘What part of those photos shared did you find to be insulting?'”

Police raided Gezici's home early on Friday, detained him and seized various belongings in his house. His lawyer said the journalist was detained and his house searched because of certain tweets the writer had posted.

Gezici was released that same day after his questioning ended at the police station.

The journalist said he was asked about 20-30 questions and they were all about the tweets he had posted. He said he was asked why he had tweeted and re-tweeted certain things and why he had starred specific tweets.
The 35-article, government-endorsed judiciary bill that includes the clause used to detain Gezici envisages drastic changes to the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and the Code on Criminal Procedure (CMK). For many it represents a major regression in judicial reforms the government has completed in line with the European Union accession negotiations.

The draft bill, while empowering police and prosecutors with sweeping powers in regards to searches, seizures, detentions and arrests, will also significantly restrict the rights of defense for suspects.

The threshold for the burden of proof that is required in obtaining a search warrant was reduced from strong and concrete evidence to mere “reasonable doubt” in the bill.

The police will, should the bill pass, not only be able to easily search any individual, their homes and their vehicles, but also easily seize the property of all so-called dissidents on the grounds that they committed a crime against the government.

SHOTLIST
TURKEY, ADANA, 20 OCT 2014

Gezici and his lawyer sitting in front of the flag
VAR of Gezici's statements

DURATION: 04:55