Controversy Over Prime Ministry’s Cancellation Of Accreditations Continues

The reason for the cancellation of the accreditation of some of the journalists by the Prime Ministry has been announced: absenteeism. Sultan Özer of daily Günlük Evrensel, who has been a Prime Ministry reporter for eight years, is one of those journalists.

Özer asked Prime Ministry’s Press Consultant’s Office what the reason was for the cancellation of her accreditation. Press Consultant Ahmet Arslan’ answer was that she had not satisfied the ‘attendance’ condition required for being a Prime Ministry reporter.

Yesterday (November 24), Özer, a member of the Discipline Committee of the Turkish Journalists Union (TGS) and diplomacy reporter for daily Günlük Evrensel, had petitioned the Administrative Court of Ankara for the removal of the accreditation ban put into effect by the Prime Ministry against some journalists.

Özer’s lawyer Meliha Selvi had asked the court to recall the accreditation ban and stop the enforcement of the decision. 

Daily Günlük Evrensel had held Beki responsible and the People’s Republican Party (CHP) had intervened

Özer, who has been a press card holder for 11 years and Prime Ministry reporter for 8 years, was not allowed to observe the Council of Ministers on November 10 on the grounds that her accreditation was cancelled.

Hasan Tüfekçi and Turan Yılmaz of daily Hürriyet, Abdullah Karakuş of daily Milliyet, Fatma Çözen of Star TV and Ali Ekber Ertürk of daily Akşam were also affected from this decision.

Daily Günlük Evrensel had condemned the decision by stating that it was the personal preference of Arif Beki, the chief consultant of Prime Minister Erdoğan. The People’s Republican Party had intervened and brought the issue to the Parliament.

Reactions to the ban

President of the Pres Council Oktay Ekşi of daily Hurriyet reminded the journalists that they could have this decision cancelled by taking it to the courts.

Organization of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed People (MAZLUMDER) described the accreditation policy as violation of the freedom of press, which is a subcategory of the freedom of expression. The G 9 Platform demanded an end to these acts which can never be allowed in the Democratic regimes.

The Turkish Journalists Society (TGC) wanted this policy that puts an end to the claims of  tolerance to all voices to stop immediately. President of the Contemporary Journalists Association Ahmet Abakay said that these people who decide about these matters in the Prime Ministry were not journalists, they were party members looking for supporters.

The Human Rights Association (İHD) too invited the Prime Ministry to respect the Freedom of Press and to quit jeopardizing the journalists’ right to work. (EÖ/TB)