Dutch Journalist Arrested in Turkey Who Previously Dismissed Erdogan's Creeping Authoritarianism

Dutch journalist Frederike Geerdink, who covers Kurdish affairs, had her home raided and was arrested this morning in Turkey and accused of “propaganda for a terrorist organization,” she announced on Twitter:

terrorism police just searched my house, team of 8 guys. they take me to the station now. charge: 'propaganda for terrorist organization'

— Frederike Geerdink (@fgeerdink) January 6, 2015

This arrest comes as Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders visited Istanbul today:

#Turkey arrested Dutch journalist @fgeerdink today, happens to be the day when state visit by Dutch FM Koenders to Istanbul made.

— ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) January 6, 2015

What makes Geerdink’s arrest so ironic is that she has openly dismissed the creeping authoritarianism in Turkey in recent years, such as this tweet in 2012:

Under the rule of Islamist president Recep Erdogan, Turkey has grown increasingly tyrannical, seen especially in the targeting of journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists has noted special concern for the press in Turkey, and even the New York Times has noted that Turkey has become the world’s leading “jailhouse of journalists.”

Perhaps even more troubling is that President Obama has identified Erdogan as one of his top 5 international friends. It will be interesting if the State Department gets asked about Geerdink’s arrest today.

UPDATE: The Turkish government has given its official reason for detaining Geerdink – comments on Twitter:

Official reason to detain Dutch reporter today: Creating negative persuasion on Twitter re Turkish State.
v @burcuas http://t.co/T5D3K6dlLf

— ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) January 6, 2015

Here’s more:

interrogation of @fgeerdink follows 3 separate criminal complaints filed against her for alleged PKK propaganda via twitter @burcuas reports

— Amberin Zaman (@amberinzaman) January 6, 2015