Speaking on behalf of 28 out of the 35 journalists who were on the list, Sabah columnist Nazlı Ilıcak said they denounce the Sledgehammer plan. “In the so-called ‘war game,’ journalists were categorized as ‘to be arrested’ and ‘to be used.’ We condemn the idea that 137 of our colleagues were labeled ‘collaborators’ without their knowledge or approval. We invite the political parties represented in Parliament to take action,” Ilıcak said at a press conference prior to filing a criminal complaint at the Beşiktaş High Criminal Court. The journalists’ move drew varying reactions: Some supported it, while others found it a futile attempt because they believe filing a criminal complaint against those behind the plot will not serve as a remedy for the pro-coup mentality in Turkey.Bugün’s Gülay Göktürk, who was on the list of “to be arrested” journalists and who filed a criminal complaint against those behind the plan, says the important aspect of this move is that it rejects an understanding which sees coups as a clash among those who rule and an act of military violence that targets the government. “Although it is called a coup against the government, the real target of the coups is the public. So this move is a call to everyone, either in organized groups or individually, to take action against coup plotters,” explains Göktürk. Göktürk says Turkey is passing through a period when those voicing the most ordinary democratic ideas dare to face prison sentences, even death. “We, those on this list, had to become ‘heroes’ in order to be able to do what an honest journalist who has respect for their job would naturally do. I am personally not very satisfied with this. I do not want anything more than the days when a journalist or a columnist will not have to perform heroic acts in order to do their job correctly,” says Göktürk.
Yeni Şafak’s Fehmi Koru, who was also on the “to be arrested” list in the Sledgehammer action plot, says although he supported the move of the 28 journalists who filed a criminal compliant against those behind the action plan, he has chosen not to become a co-party to the campaign. Explaining his position, he said: “Every article I pen here is actually a criminal complaint. My articles are written documents for everyone who wishes to use them.”
Complaining about the structure of the Turkish press, which he describes as one in which the big insult the small and try to intimidate them, he says the foundation of this structure of the Turkish press was laid down following the May 27, 1960 coup. “Many of those who are in the mainstream media now are either from the staff of the newspapers established by the coup perpetrators or are the ones trained by those staff. Since they exist thanks to the status quo, they support every initiative for the perpetuation of the status quo, and they strongly oppose any moves that would spoil that order. In such a system, to whom will you complain about whom?” he asks, explaining the reason behind his decision to not take part in the signature campaign.
