HDP Brings Crackdowns on Media to Parliamentary Agenda

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Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Van MP Bedia Özgökçe Ertan has submitted a parliamentary inquiry for the damage caused by oppressing media outlets by means of Staturoy Decrees, regulations, investigations and police raids to be investigated.

In her parliamentary question, Ertan stated that tens of media outlets were closed by the Statutory Decree No. 668 enacted in the wake of the July 15 coup attempt.

“Arrest of journalists, closing of press institutions, trying of journalists and intellectuals, Turkey’s being ranked at bottom place in freedom of the press ranking, opposition media’s facing the darkest censor in its history fit for neither principle of law state nor democracy”.

The inquiry briefly touched upon:

“As part of the State of Emergency, firstly 45 newspapers, 16 TV and 23 radio channels, 15 magazines, 3 news agencies and 29 publishing houses were closed by the Statutory Decree No. 668.

“Again within the framework of this authorization, 12 dissident TV and 11 radio channels including child and folk music channels were closed on September 28.

“Raiding the channels on whose close warrant was issued, police, like the soldiers did during the coup attempt on July 15, cut off the broadcasting of the channels in subject live on air and sealed their buildings on October 4”.

The statement also stated that Turkey is ranked 151st in Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) press freedom ranking and stressed the increase in arrest and detention of journalists and intellectuals. (AS/TK)