‘Being tried for a story’: Jailed TV executive speaks out

Hidayat Karaca has been in jail for 16 months awaiting a terrorism trial, after his network was critical of the Turkish president. He wrote this letter to Dateline from inside prison.

Hidayet Karaca was chairman of the multi-channel Samanyolu TV network. Source: Supplied

Firstly, I especially thank you for myself and my family for coming from Australia and will be making the world, the free world, hear about the fight I have been engaged in, in the name of ‘democracy and freedom of the press and expression’.

The process that started on 14th December 2014 to silence the free press has continued to this day, getting even heavier.

A crime is being tried to be produced out of a film series that has a licence to market a product from the Ministry of Culture and that has been sold to tens of countries.

Geoff with Hidayet Karaca's wife Sule. He handed her a letter to take to him in prison. Source: SBS Dateline

I am being kept in prison for 16 months with the accusation of ‘setting up and running a terrorist organisation’ based on two words that occur in a film with artistic and royalty rights that is fictional and a product of the imagination of the screenwriter.

I see with sadness that the dream of a new Turkey and advanced democracy in Turkey has unfortunately been transformed into questioning imagination and into court cases of censorship.

I do not feel like talking or writing about or defending in court what I have been experiencing and trying a film series, a story. This is impossible to reconcile with democracy, the freedom of expression in the press in which I believe.

Nowhere in the world a work of art, a film or cinema, has been tried and declared guilty to this day. This court case will be the first in the world of cinema and TV series.

Geoff walks around the deserted studios of the Samanyolu TV network. Source: SBS Dateline

I have been making notes of my experiences and will publish them in my book ‘Tried for a Story’.

That’s why I entrust my defence to history and the future generations.

I am a journalist of 25 years, continuously holding a yellow press card.  As a journalist of 25 years, I have done nothing to be ashamed of or anything to shame my family or my friends, with my honour and integrity and being transparent. Thank God.

My hope is that these ordeals will end. There is a saying ‘get as dark as you can, oh darkness, the last point of darkness is the beginning of light’.

This is the handwritten response from Hidayet Karaca to Geoff's questions, which is translated into English on this page. Source: SBS Dateline

Turkey is a country of the rule of law. Although confidence in justice has today been wounded, the law, human rights, freedom of the press and expression shall again be represented and experienced at the highest level.

I dream of these things in the dungeon, between four walls, surrounded by walls with barbed wire.

Before I was arrested, when I was in the 7th basement of the courthouse, I asked for water to take my medication, the police said “no water.” And when I said it was for my medication, the police officer said “is this a kiosk?”

Although ‘justice’ may be at the bottom of the well today, I am hopeful for the future in the name of the Turkish people.

Samanyolu's 16 channels were taken off the national satellite, leaving the network crippled. Source: SBS Dateline

With determination, steadfastness and belief I am drawing a picture of the days of tomorrow’s beautiful Turkey and the days when all humanity will live happily in peace and friendship.

I congratulate and thank you as a colleague and a human being for letting your country and the whole world hear what I have been through. Thank you.

Hidayet Karaca

Journalist

Silivri High Security Prison

See more on Hidayet Karaca and press freedom in Turkey in Dateline's story, Enemy of the State?