Agence France-Presse Chairman and CEO Fabrice Fries demanded on Tuesday the "rapid release" of its photographer Yasin Akgul, who was arrested for his coverage of demonstrations in Istanbul that followed the city mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's arrest.
"Yasin Akgul was not part of the protest. As a journalist, he was covering one of the many demonstrations that have been organised in the country since Wednesday March 19," Fries said in a letter to the Turkish presidency secretary general Hakki Susmaz. "His imprisonment is unacceptable. This is why I am asking you to intervene as quickly as possible to obtain the rapid release of our journalist."
The photojournalist, along with 7 other media professionals, was detained on charges of allegedly "violating the law on meetings and demonstrations." An Istanbul tribunal today charged Akgul with "taking part in illegal rallies and marches and failing to disperse despite warnings," overturning a previous ruling for conditional freedom.
