Trials against Journalists Ferocious Attitude in Turkey

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World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has called for solidarity with Turkish media against pressures on freedom of expression and media in Turkey.

WAN-IFRA holding a meeting on December 12 in Paris criticized government of Turkey over its ongoing pressure on media and for oppressing or marginalizing critical and opposite thoughts.

WAN-IFRA stating that harassments against media has intensified as of November 1 general elections, expressed in its statement that the government’s ongoing aggressive stance threatens democratic bases of society of Turkey.

WAN-IFRA reminding that the journalists have been brought face to face with terror accusations during summer said, “Turkey has aimed to count basic principles of journalism that it ‘disagrees with’ as crime”.

“Freedom to Rasool”

WAN-IFRA reminding arrest of Vice reporters Jake Hanrahan, Philip Pendlebury and Muhammed Rasool in September and that while two of the journalists were deported, Rasool is still under arrest, has requested charges against Rasool to be dropped and have him released immediately.

“Attacks against media must not be tolerated”

WA-IFRA also called for authorities to carry out an impartial prosecution as to attackers of journalist Ahmet Hakan and Hürriyet daily, and asked for a message to be delivered stating attacks against media will not be tolerated.

Reaction against arrest of Gül and Dündar

WAN-IFRA commented “Trying a large number of journalists of different opinions in this way is a ferocious attitude” as to arrest of Cumhuriyet daily Chief Editor Can Dündar and its Ankara Representative Erdem Gül.

WAN-IFRA reminding that Turkey is obliged to protect freedom of expression in line with international agreements of which Turkey is a signee as well, called for international community to impose pressure on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the necessary environment to be established to protect freedom of the press and independent journalism. (EA/TK)