Journalist Not Arrested By Erdogan Wonders If Gov’t Thinks He’s Already Dead

“I think it’s because of someone else’s obituary,” he surmised.

Ankara, November 20 – One of the few remaining reporters or commentators in Turkey who has not been silenced or imprisoned by the authorities in the last several months has begun to believe that the only reason he has been left alone is that the government thinks he died already.

Aybi Mastul, 55, worked for a local publication that was shut down following the unsuccessful coup d’état in July this year, but was the only one of the reporting staff not to be detained in the ensuing months. Former coworkers have steadily joined the ranks of those now under lock and key for alleged opposition to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but Mastul appears to be the sole exception. The political reporter, who wrote several scathing articles this year alone on corruption of several Erdogan cronies, remains frightened and confused, but also confessed occasional relief at the possibility that the police and secret service evidently think he died in June.

“I think it’s because of someone else’s obituary,” he surmised. “There was a minor celebrity in Istanbul who kicked the bucket early this summer, and his name was very similar to mine. So my guess is some mid-level functionary in charge of putting together the lists of people to arrest for maintaining an independent press saw my name and thought, ‘Oh, didn’t he just die? I’m pretty sure he just died,’ and that was the end of it. At least I hope that was the end of it.”

Mastul admitted he would much prefer to have the president reverse his crackdown on the media and stop trying to create a totalitarian regime, but will also accept this small measure of consolation. “I miss my colleagues and fear for their safety, so of course I want them released,” he explained. “And it might only be a matter of time before someone with authority notices the error – especially if I keep tweeting, posting, or reporting. Not really sure what to do at this point.”

“Faking one’s own death is usually a complicated thing, from what I understand,” he continued. “There are just too many variables and loose ends. But it looks like I didn’t even have to try. No chance of my family collecting life insurance, though. No documentation. This state of limbo is terrible.”

Mastul gave a rueful laugh at the way his last sentence could be taken as a direct description of the country of Turkey.

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