The application of arrested journalist Ziya Ataman at the Constitutional Court was denied. The journalist was arrested on April 11, 2016 and is awaiting an indictment for 20 months in prison; arrested in remand for three years. The Constitutional Court decree stated that “the allegation claiming that the right to personal freedom and safety was violated due to unlawful arrest and the unreasonable arrest period clearly lacks basis” and that “it is unacceptable due to the lack of exhaustion of all remedies” regarding the objection with the claim of violation of fair trial.
The legal representation of Ataman was undertaken by the Media and Legal Studies Association (MLSA). MLSA lawyer Barış Oflas stated, “It is well known that Ziya Ataman is targeted due to his journalist activities. It is truly incomprehensible that our application was found to ‘lack basis’ despite such a long arrest period. However, this decree also means that all domestic remedies were exhausted. Therefore we will apply at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) right away.”
02.05.2019
bianet.org