IPI condemn Turkey for treatment of journalists
IPI condemn Turkey for treatment of journalists
The International Press Institute (IPI) called on the Turkish government to immediately release all imprisoned journalists in the final declaration of the 60th General Assembly.
The members of the organization condemned the serious violations of press freedom around the world, at the Congress of the IPI World 2011 held September 26 in Taipei, Taiwan.
The International Press Institute (IPI) sharply criticized Turkey, Mexico, Hungary, the Philippines, South Africa and England about freedom of the press. The final declaration of the congress remarked that a climate of fear has been created around journalists in Turkey.
In particular IPI remarked that "Turkish Ministry of Justice has most recently acknowledged that 64 journalists are currently in prison. Many journalists were arrested on charges of taking part in the attempts to stage a coup on the government or being members of Ergenekon and other terrorist organizations. While most of these journalists have been held under arrest for a very long time without a trial, Prime Minister Erdoðan said that requirements will be met for the freedom of the press.
However, arrests and pressures have created a fear climate on media organizations and journalists. National security does not come to mean to prevent journalists from doing their profession or to put them in prison on grounds of the news they make. As the IPI, we urge the Turkish government to accelerate the processes of the trial of journalists and we demand the release of journalists in prison.”
At least 64 journalists in prison
In the final declaration, the institute has expressed "grave concern at the continued detention of at least 64 journalists in Turkey." Referring to his report of July, the IPI said that Turkey is the world's biggest prison for journalists ahead of China and Iran. The declaration calls on the Turkish government to immediately release all imprisoned journalists.
Erdogan has created a media army
Today, journalists are afraid to criticize the AKP government, in power since 2002. Freedom of expression is threatened more than ever and most media have become real instruments of government propaganda.
The pro-AKP media are quick to point fingers at the opponents and the police then act against those indicated by media without any evidence. Kurdish journalists are the first target, while all the others who openly criticize the government are being politically intimidated.
Journalists are often victims of abuse of the Anti-terrorism (LAT) by the Turkish authorities.
RSF: too easy to arrest journalists
"The coverage of certain subjects is systematically repressed by the law. It is all too easy to arrest and convict journalists for doing their job or express an opinion, to seize documents, to trace their sources. And in the current fierce power struggle at the top of all organs of state, justice does not hesitate to do so," Reporters Without Borders denounced in its investigation report released on 16 June 2011.
On June 12, the Commissioner of Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Thomas Hammarberg, also denounced the "particularly worrying" situation as to freedom of expression and media freedom in Turkey. "Respect and protection of freedom of expression are essential for the progress of democracy in Turkey," declared the Commissioner.
Newspaper publication suspended
Dozens of Kurdish newspapers, but also left alternatives have been banned since the arrival of the AKP to power.
Azadiya Welat, the only newspaper in the Kurdish language in Turkey, was suspended nine times since its publication as a daily in 2006. Among the journalists in prison are at least nine journalists from the Kurdish daily, including three former editors.
On September 26, the biweekly newspaper Yeni Dönem Yayýncýlýk, was suspended for one month by an Istanbul court for "propaganda of a terrorist organization."
On September 10, the newspaper Halkin Günlüðü was suspended for one month and the 18th edition was seized for "propaganda of a terrorist organization."
On August 28, the 11th Assize Court of Istanbul ordered the closure of the Kurdish newspaper Rojev, auxiliary Azadiya Welat for one month for publishing on its front page a photograph of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan.
On August 21, Azadiya Welat was suspended for the third time since the beginning of a month.
The members of the organization condemned the serious violations of press freedom around the world, at the Congress of the IPI World 2011 held September 26 in Taipei, Taiwan.
The International Press Institute (IPI) sharply criticized Turkey, Mexico, Hungary, the Philippines, South Africa and England about freedom of the press. The final declaration of the congress remarked that a climate of fear has been created around journalists in Turkey.
In particular IPI remarked that "Turkish Ministry of Justice has most recently acknowledged that 64 journalists are currently in prison. Many journalists were arrested on charges of taking part in the attempts to stage a coup on the government or being members of Ergenekon and other terrorist organizations. While most of these journalists have been held under arrest for a very long time without a trial, Prime Minister Erdoðan said that requirements will be met for the freedom of the press.
However, arrests and pressures have created a fear climate on media organizations and journalists. National security does not come to mean to prevent journalists from doing their profession or to put them in prison on grounds of the news they make. As the IPI, we urge the Turkish government to accelerate the processes of the trial of journalists and we demand the release of journalists in prison.”
At least 64 journalists in prison
In the final declaration, the institute has expressed "grave concern at the continued detention of at least 64 journalists in Turkey." Referring to his report of July, the IPI said that Turkey is the world's biggest prison for journalists ahead of China and Iran. The declaration calls on the Turkish government to immediately release all imprisoned journalists.
Erdogan has created a media army
Today, journalists are afraid to criticize the AKP government, in power since 2002. Freedom of expression is threatened more than ever and most media have become real instruments of government propaganda.
The pro-AKP media are quick to point fingers at the opponents and the police then act against those indicated by media without any evidence. Kurdish journalists are the first target, while all the others who openly criticize the government are being politically intimidated.
Journalists are often victims of abuse of the Anti-terrorism (LAT) by the Turkish authorities.
RSF: too easy to arrest journalists
"The coverage of certain subjects is systematically repressed by the law. It is all too easy to arrest and convict journalists for doing their job or express an opinion, to seize documents, to trace their sources. And in the current fierce power struggle at the top of all organs of state, justice does not hesitate to do so," Reporters Without Borders denounced in its investigation report released on 16 June 2011.
On June 12, the Commissioner of Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Thomas Hammarberg, also denounced the "particularly worrying" situation as to freedom of expression and media freedom in Turkey. "Respect and protection of freedom of expression are essential for the progress of democracy in Turkey," declared the Commissioner.
Newspaper publication suspended
Dozens of Kurdish newspapers, but also left alternatives have been banned since the arrival of the AKP to power.
Azadiya Welat, the only newspaper in the Kurdish language in Turkey, was suspended nine times since its publication as a daily in 2006. Among the journalists in prison are at least nine journalists from the Kurdish daily, including three former editors.
On September 26, the biweekly newspaper Yeni Dönem Yayýncýlýk, was suspended for one month by an Istanbul court for "propaganda of a terrorist organization."
On September 10, the newspaper Halkin Günlüðü was suspended for one month and the 18th edition was seized for "propaganda of a terrorist organization."
On August 28, the 11th Assize Court of Istanbul ordered the closure of the Kurdish newspaper Rojev, auxiliary Azadiya Welat for one month for publishing on its front page a photograph of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan.
On August 21, Azadiya Welat was suspended for the third time since the beginning of a month.
