In a statement on May 3, World Press Freedom Day, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) headquarters demanded the release of jailed press workers and the practice of legal arrangements to assure freedom of press and information.

BDP Press Commission remarked that hundreds of journalists and writers in Turkey are meeting 3 May in jail, adding, “Freedom of press is a weapon of democracy that workers of the press use against authoritarian regimes in countries where the concepts of freedom and equality are regarded as a threat. This is the reason why the genocide against press workers takes place among the greatest genocides witnessed in anti-democratic countries”.

Reminding of journalists who fell victim to unsolved murders in the history of Turkey, BDP Press Commission remarked that “The mentality which cannot tolerate journalists siding with truths puts them in prison in the scope of so-called KCK (Kurdish Communities Union) operations and deprives them of their freedom for months on the basis of 'secret witness' statements lacking in concrete reasons”.

Calling attention to RSF 2013 report in which Turkey was ranked among the 25 worst countries in terms of press freedom,coming in 154th place among 179 nations, BDP Press Commission said journalists in Turkish jails made up 30 percent of the total number of journalists behind bars worldwide. BDP stated that the accusation of press workers of being terrorists was the evidence of the critical repression on the freedom of press in Turkey.

BDP noted that the solution of the Kurdish problem following the currently ongoing process of negotiations will also pave the way for the freedom of press and information in the country.

BDP pointed out that journalists in Turkey suffered from detentions and arrests, violation of their personal and economic rights and restriction of the conditions necessary for journalism works.

BDP ended by underlining that it is time to remove all obstacles to the freedom of thought and expression and to end the trial of journalists because of their work as part of the democratic solution process.