Syrian journalist, facing deportation from Turkish authorities over banana-eating videos, released

After being taken into custody and sent to a detention center in Turkey, Syrian journalist Majed Shamaa has been released.

Majed Shamaa | Image credits: The Syrian Observer

Following a street interview in Istanbul in which a citizen said, "I cannot eat bananas, they buy kilos," several Syrians posted videos of themselves eating bananas as a response. Majed Shamaa reported on these videos in a humorous way.

That news report led to Shamaa's detention and placement in a removal center in Turkey's Antep province.

The lawyer for the journalist Majed Shamaa has announced that his client has been released and will be returning to Istanbul today (November 9). Hartavi said Shamaa did not mean to mock anyone and "wanted to tackle Syria's problems in a funny way."

The story behind Majed’s arrest

The General Directorate of Migration Management, Turkey's migration authority, announced that seven refugees had been detained for "provocative social media postings" and would soon be deported.

During a street interview in İstanbul, a man claimed refugees are financially more comfortable than locals and said, "I can't afford bananas. They buy kilos of them." Among the interviewed was a refugee woman who said, "I'm a Syrian, too. I'm a student here. If there weren't a war in Syria, we wouldn't have to come here. We have no choice."

Refugees shared videos of themselves eating bananas after this video went viral. Police began identifying everyone who shared such videos on social media, the Directorate said. However, there was no further explanation as to why the refugees were deported.

Several hours later, eight more people were taken into custody in Zmir over the 'banana-eating videos'.

Orient News, a Syrian television channel, was criticized in a humorous manner by Majed Shamaa. "Orient News, which is responsible for this scandal, must immediately cease all activities," Aksoy stated. He also alleged that "Orient News, located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is manipulated by the UAE."

Shamaa was taken into custody on October 30 after posting this social media post on the grounds that he allegedly "provoked hatred and hostility against Turks". Following his arrest, he was sent to a removal center and forced to sign papers accepting his departure from Turkey.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) verbally warned Turkey in August of its plans to deport Syrian refugee journalists from Turkey on the grounds that they had not arranged their visa status within the indicated period. The Turkish authorities have finally backed down and allowed the journalists to stay in the country.

According to the RSF's 2021 World Press Freedom Index, Turkey ranks 153rd out of 180 countries, while Syria ranks 173rd. 

* This article contained information that was sourced from Bianet.org