Detained journalist Hüsnü Mahalli taken to hospital in Istanbul

Journalist Hüsnü Mahalli, who was detained on Dec. 13 for allegedly insulting state officials on Twitter, was hospitalized on Dec. 14, Doğan News Agency has reported.

Mahalli was transferred to Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine Hospital when he felt unwell in the evening hours during his proceedings at the police headquarters.

His treatment has been ongoing in the hospital's neurology unit.

Police detained Mahalli at his home on Dec. 13 and took him to police headquarters. Digital equipment at his home was also seized for investigation.

Mahalli was recently the subject of a debate on pro-government broadcaster A Haber following his remarks on a regime offensive in Syria's Aleppo, with presenter Erkan Tan saying he is a "traitor." Mahalli had criticized the Turkish media's stance in reporting Aleppo, pointing to its indifference to events in Yemen or Libya.

Born in Syria's Jarabulus in 1949, Mahalli studied journalism at Istanbul University, before working for international broadcasters such as the BBC, NBC, and media outlets in a number of Arab countries.