Journalist Güngör Arslan killed in an armed attack in Kocaeli province

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Güngör Arslan, the owner and managing editor of local Kocaeli Ses newspaper, was targeted in an armed attack at his office.

Taken to the Kocaeli State Hospital after the attack on Saturday (February 19), Arslan lost his life. Examining the scene of the incident, the police caught the suspect who had fled the crime scene.

In a written statement released by the Governor's Office of Kocaeli, it was announced that the suspect named R.Ö. was caught together with the murder weapon. The Governor's Office also indicated that a comprehensive investigation has been launched into the incident.

'Two people instigated me'

With his interrogation at the security directorate still ongoing as of today (February 21), perpetrator R.Ö. gave his first statement.

Police officers launched operations against several addresses following his first statement. They also requested additional time from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to complete the interrogation.

In his first statement, R.Ö. said that two people had instigated him to commit the crime, reportedly telling him, "We will make you very comfortable. You will have no problems. Neither will your family."

R.Ö. said that he knew these two people from the neighborhood and a day before the murder, they test-fired in an empty field.

According to perpetrator R.Ö.'s statement, a day after this test-fire, he went to Güngör Arslan's office and said that he wanted to talk to him about a news report. Having a row with him at his office, R.Ö. fired two shots at Arslan's foot. Thinking that Arslan might be coming upon him, he fired 4-5 shots into the air. He argued that one of these bullets may have hit Arslan.

R.Ö. also alleged that though the two told him to "kill" Arslan, he did not want to kill him. Saying that the instigators sent him a lawyer, R.Ö. reportedly rejected it by saying, "I don't want a lawyer sent by you."

Arslan's daughter: He was frequently threatened

Güngör Arslan's daughter Nazlıcan Arslan also said that her father was receiving frequent threats, noting that these threats were ongoing in the past days: "There are people whom we filed complaints against. An attack was carried out against our newspaper. Its perpetrators were the owners of Imperial Park Hotel. A lawsuit was filed; they compensated for our losses. No action was taken about the physical attacks on my father."

Politicians were at the funeral

After the prayers at Fevziye Mosque in central İzmit yesterday (February 20), Güngör Arslan was laid to rest in Bağçeşme Cemetery.

The funeral was attended by several citizens as well as Kocaeli Governor Seddar Yavuz, Kocaeli Metropolitan Mayor Tahir Büyükakın, Republican People's Party (CHP) Kocaeli Provincial Organization Chair Özgür Yıldızlı, Felicity Party (SP) Provincial Chair Zafer Mutlu, DEVA Party Provincial Chair Adem Koç, CHP Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Group Deputy Chair Engin Taşdemir, CHP İzmit District Chair Hakan Çakar, CHP former Provincial Chair Cengiz Sarıbay and İzmit Mayor Fatma Kaplan Hürriyet.

Journalists condemn the attack

Kocaeli Journalists Association (KOCAGE) released a statement condemning the attack. The Association also expressed its wishes that the perpetrator or perpetrators be caught in the shortest time possible.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Representative to Turkey Erol Önderoğlu has also made a statement about the deadly attack. Condemning the attack on behalf of the RSF, Önderoğlu has said,

"We want the cause of the attack to be brought to light and all responsible parties to be penalized in the severest way possible. Last year, radio presenter Hazım Özsu was also killed in Bursa by a person from his audience who did not like his comments. If the life of Güngör Arslan is taken due to his profession, it shows that Turkey is no longer a safe country for journalists amid the hostile climate that has been in place for years."

He criticized the mayor in last article

In his last article published a day before his killing, Güngör Arslan wrote that Kocaeli Metropolitan Mayor Tahir Büyükakın had given the tender for the Health City of 502 houses to be constructed by Kent Konut in Kartepe to his close friend's company Haldız Construction.

Güngör Arslan wrote, "Risking everything to save Haldız from the economic crisis he has found himself in, he has given the Kent Konut project of Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality to Haldız Construction. [...] Tahir Büyükakın has to respond to these allegations."

He served 6 months for 'blackmailing'

Detained for "threat and blackmailing" along with Gündem Kocaeli Newspaper's owner Ümit Rende on March 21, 2021, Arslan and Rende were arrested. Spending 188 days behind bars, Arslan was released at his first hearing at the Kocaeli 12th Criminal Court of First Instance.

Arslan had been detained due to similar accusations and criminal complaints. After his Bizim Kocaeli Newspaper was closed following the coup attempt in 2016, Arslan was detained as a "FETÖ" suspect. He was acquitted in the trial, but his newspaper and property were seized. (HA/SD)