Lately, mysterious political murders and free speech violations have become the prevailing theme of this blog.
Don't blame me because I almost stopped writing about more entertaining stuff, like anectodes from the Ottoman history, which I like to read.
After all, this is Turkey today and I just write what I see. And I feel bad when I don't write about them.
For instance, wouldn't you write about it when you learn that Hrant Dink's attorney Hakan Karadag has been found dead at his home, apparently committed suicide.
As some reports in the Turkish media call the death "suspicious," is it yet another mysterious political murder?
And what about reporting it?
Sami Mentes, a correspondent for Yurt newspaper, has been arrested this morning by the police, while preparing a story about Karadag's death.
With this arrest, Ankara consolidates its place as the worst jailer of journalists in the world, but it seems that it also pursues other titles.
Maybe "the worst jailer of lawyers"?
Fifteen lawyers have been arrested with dawn raids in Istanbul today. Some of them were attorneys in high-profile cases such as Engin Ceber and Festus Okey.
Or maybe, considering my previous post, "the worst jailer of musicians"?
Among the ones who were arrested today are five members of Grup Yorum, the most famous protest music band in Turkey.
Hours of after these incidents, Noam Chomsky arrived in the Bogazici University campus for a lecture. He called Hrant Dink "a martyr" for freedom of expression.
But how many people should be killed or arrested to get this basic human right from the hands of the current government?
And how many more should die suspiciously?
When I find an answer, I'll start writing more entertaining stuff here.
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