Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
B85EI6BIYAAcRsR
Fréderike Geerdink (Picture: Twitter/@kencampbell66) - Credit: Fréderike Geerdink (Picture: Twitter/@kencampbell66)
Politics
CDA
d66
Diyarbakir
Dutch embassy in Ankara
Dutch journalist
Frederike Geerdink
Kurdish issue
making propaganda for a terrorist organization
Minister Bert Koenders
ministry of foreign affairs
NVJ
propaganda
prosecuted
SP
Thomas Bruning
Turkey
Tuesday, 3 February 2015 - 09:15
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Dutch journalist to be prosecuted in Turkey on propaganda claim

Fréderike Geerdink, the Dutch journalist living in Turkey who was taken in for questioning in January, may be facing a prison sentence of between 1 and 5 years. The Public Prosecutor in Diyarbakir is prosecuting her for "making propaganda for a terrorist organization". Geerding, who works for several Dutch news agencies including Het Parool and The Independent, lives in Diyarbakir and specializes int the hotly contested Kurdish issue. Geerdink is to appear in court for the first time on April 8th. On January 6th the journalist was arrested by the Turkish police and taken for questioning. The arrest happened on the same day that Minister Bert Koenders (Foreign Affairs) was in Ankara for consultations. The minister immediately turned to the Turkish government and diplomats and expressed his displeasure. "That Geerdink is free again is good news, but press freedom in Turkey will remain an important focus for the Netherlands and the European Union. Intimidation of journalists is unacceptable", Koenders said in Akara after Geerdink's release. According to Thomas Bruning, the Secretary General of the journalist union NVJ, it is "absurd" that Geerdink will still be prosecuted. Geerdink is a "professional journalist just doing her job". The NVJ will ensure that she gets "the best possible legal representation". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of Geerdink's situation. The Dutch embassy in Ankara is in contact with her and is following the case, said the department. Opposition parties CDA, SP and D66 is advocating for new action from Koenders. The SP wants Koenders to ensure good legal advice and that Geerdink gets a fair trial. Geerdest is the newest victim of the Turkish war against journalism. According to Professor Howard Eissenstat, country expert for Turkey at the American department of human rights organization Amnesty International, her prosecution is not surprising. He attributes the increase in the number of cases against journalists to the politicization of the judiciary and a series of laws making it easier the deal with people who make critical statements of the state.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Lynxes might settle in Netherlands again; A "dilemma," Minister says
  • Leak of Dutch PM's row with Finance Minister is "Gossip and backstabbing;" Rutte apologized
  • Dutch police take down Exclu encrypted chat service with 42 arrests, €4 million seized
  • One worker killed, four hurt in Zeeland Refinery accident
  • Left-wing parties want to retroactively tax Shell's record profits more heavily
  • Container ship crews play a key role in cocaine trade via Dutch ports

Top stories

  • Dutch police take down Exclu encrypted chat service with 42 arrests, €4 million seized
  • Signal failure briefly halts train traffic around A'dam; NS warns of significant delays
  • Matching medicine dosage to patient's DNA can cut side effects 30%: LUMC
  • Dutch airports' traveler numbers not yet back to pre-pandemic levels in 2022
  • Dutch parliamentarians support €57 rent reduction for low-income households
  • European office to gather proof of war crimes in Ukraine will set up in The Hague

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content