Anadolu Agency has issued a statement in response to the recent claims in the Turkish media on phone tapping activity targeting AA officials and staff.
The statement says: "Turkish dailies, such as Yeni Safak and the Star have published a legal file, numbered 2011/762, run by the Istanbul Caglayan Court of Justice under the Anti-Terrorism Act, which appears to detail phone tapping activity in Anadolu Agency’s (AA) phone lines.
"The phone tapping has targeted the Director General Kemal Ozturk, Editor-In-Chief Omer Eksi, Board Member Mucahit Kucukyilmaz, Turkey News Editor Ertugrul Cingil, New Media Deputy Editor Behcet Gungor, Middle East and Africa News Editor Turan Kislakci, the Agency’s lawyer Serife Gul Ariman, and economy reporter Tamer Toganas.
"Anadolu Agency has appealed to the Prime Ministry, the Ministry of Interior Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, and the General Security Directorate for information as to when and how long the agency’s staff members were tapped and whether the activity was authorized.
"The agency has also submitted a petition to the Public Prosecutor's Office requesting information. The petition asks for details on the above-mentioned phone tapping activity, which has been made public and is claimed to have continued for three years, under the Right to Information Act.
"Anadolu Agency will file a criminal complaint with the Prosecutor's Office for breach of confidentiality of communication, breach of privacy, eavesdropping and recording private conversations, as well as unlawful recording of private data.
"AA will also take legal action against libel and fabricating crimes under the pretense of investigating terrorist organization allegations. After the evidence and suspects emerge, and the claims are substantiated, the agency will launch a legal complaint with the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) and demand material and moral indemnities.
"AA will exhaust all legal remedies in the face of ungrounded and unlawful criminal allegations against the respected national news agency of the Republic of Turkey."
englishnews@aa.com.tr
