We Don’t Recognize the Media Ban And Take Legal Action

As bianet, we don’t recognize the media ban imposed on the coverage of 4 former ministers’ statements to a parliamentary commission within corruption probe and refuse to follow it. Saying that it violates press and expression freedom, we are taking this ruling to court. 

“We reject it,” wrote Cumhuriyet newspaper, announcing that they would not follow the media ban. Their decision inspired several other media outlets and media professional unions which declared that they would not obey the ban either. 

As bianet, we will continue our efforts to cover about the parliamentary investigation commission. 

Because;

* The job of journalists is to inform the public.

* Media ban is censorship.

* Media ban is the violation of public right to receive information and learn the truth. 

* Due to media ban, journalists are devoid of their news sources and have hard time covering the truth. 

What happened?  

Ankara 7^th Peace Court Judge Penal imposed a media ban on the coverage of 4 former ministers’ [Zafer Çağlayan, Muammer Güler, Egemen Bağış and Erdoğan Bayraktar] statements to a parliamentary commission within corruption probe.

The ruling was issued upon a request from Parliament Chairman Cemil Çiçek “in order to protect the former ministers’ personal rights, reputation and other rights”. 

In his request, Çiçek also specified that the investigation was classified and there has been media coverage that violated the confidentiality of investigation and skewed the presumption of innocence for former ministers. 

Media bans in 2014

Only in 2014, the following are the media bans imposed by the government: 

* December 17 Corruption Probe,

* December 25 Corruption Probe,

* Investigation concerning the alleged voice recordings to former FM Ahmet Davutoğlu, MİT chief Hakan Fidan, Vice Military Chief Yaşar Güler and FM Advisor Feridun Sinirlioğlu on a potential military intervention to Syria,

* Investigation concerning a gendarmerie raid on truck on Adana-Ceyhan Highway [where MIT-provided weapons were found to be sent to Syrian rebels],

* Investigation concerning the finding of bugs in Erdoğan’s residences in Keçiören and Çankaya. 

* Investigation concerning the raid in Turkey’s Consulate to Mosul

Two previous bans lifted 

Prior to 2014, several media bans were imposed on the investigations concerning deadly blasts in Reyhanlı, Roboski Massacre, Deniz Feneri corruption case, soccer game fixing case, Ergenekon prosecution, Engin Çeber’s death case, hunger strikes and news related to high security prisons and abduction of 8 soldiers in Hakkari’s Dağlıca district by PKK. 

Out of these, only the lifting of media on Reyhanlı blasts were shared with the public. (HK/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.