Journalists under Threat of Unemployment and Imprisonment

Radikal newspaper reporter İsmail Saymaz was supported by members of the Freedom for Journalists Platform (GÖP) at his hearing before the Bakırköy (Istanbul) 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.

The hearing on 3 February was attended by Turgay Olcayto, Deputy Head of the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC), Head of the TGC Press Chamber Nail Güreli; the General Co-ordinator of the Press Institute Association, Yurdanur Atadan; the Secretary General of the Press Council, Oktay Huduti; Mehmet Demir as a member of the Media and Communication Workers Union (Haber-Sen) Supervisory Board and Yasemin Göksu from the Arts for Peace Initiative.

The trial was postponed to 14 April. Olcayto made a press announcement on behalf of GÖP after the hearing. "We are here to support our colleague Saymaz who strives for the right of the people to be informed correctly and unbiased" he said. He reiterated that 58 journalists are currently detained pending trial, about 2000 cases are being tried and 4,000 investigations are being carried out.

"Press freedom constantly diminishing under laws and politics"

Olcayto pointed to Turkey's ranging on 138th position of the World Press Freedom Index. "Journalism is having a hard time", he argued and mentioned the following points in his speech:

* Journalists are trying to work under the threats of unemployment, trials and imprisonment.

* The constant diminishing of press freedom stems from investigations and trials against journalists based on certain articles of the criminal laws on one hand and from political oppression on the other hand.

* Unemployment in this work field significantly increased by the collective lay-offs of two big media groups.

* As GÖP we aspire to create an environment where journalists can freely express their thoughts without any discrimination.

"Trials and investigations are proof for lack of freedom"

The platform also supported Zaman newspaper reporter Büşra Erdal at her hearing on 2 February at the Istanbul 11th High Criminal Court. GÖP had announced that the trials and investigations launched against journalists were in fact the proof for a lack of press freedom and freedom of expression in Turkey. (EÇ/EÖ/VK)

Source: Bizim Newspaper.