Thread by @Sylv_Mercadier

So, as I tweeted in french, I was arrested in #Istanbul, #Turkey last night on my way to report in #Diyarbakir.
I was taken out of the plane right after landing in front of the other passengers by a police officer and taken in costudy for a 2hour interrogation session.

I was then told I represent a threat to the (Turkish) Republic's security and that I will be deported in the first plane in the morning. I was accompanied to the Immigration department's "guest house", which is a room locked from outside, where I would sleep without my phone.

Other people in the room included an Azeri couple (lady in the women's section), two afghanis, two penjabis, one bangladeshi, one Iraqi from Mosul and a syrian studying in Germany that was denied entrance to Turkey where he anted to visit his aunt. We were given Burger king menus

... as diner and breakfast. Exceptionally, I was allowed ot use my phone to contact a few relatives and tweet my last night message. So there it is. I was expelled from Turkey for wanting to report on #Nawruz in Diyarbakir.

Important to note that the Turkish constitutional court has just started a procedure to dissolve the main Kurdish party in Turkey after years of discrimination against their elected members (MPs, mayors...), the latest crackdown on this formation in Turkey
france24.com/en/middle-east…

In this country, as with many other authoritarian regimes, "security" is often a fig leaf for repressive measures. Ankara doesn't want foreign journalists reporting their witch hunt against the HDP. Ankara keeps dodging the kurdish question with repression and populist policies.

I want to thank the few that supported me in the last 24hours, including @RSF_tr for relaying the information swiftly. Special thanks to the free medias @RevueBallast and @KEDISTAN as well as several colleagues I wish not naming here.
#PressFreedom #Nawrouz

I want to thank @EmniyetGM for helping me reach 1000 followers. I promise I'll use this attnetion to continue raising awareness on political & social issues in the Middle East, especially breaches to freedom of expression & other governmental abuses.
Happy Nawrouz everyone!
✌️