‘Right to Information Cannot Be Blocked by State Secret’

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The journalism trade bodies, Journalists Association of Turkey (TGC), Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS), Progressive Journalists Association (ÇGD), DİSK Press Labor and Press Institute Association in the statement they made prior to MİT trucks case which journalists Erdem Gül and Can Dündar are being tried, have stated that holding closed trial session is against universal law and law practice, and that demanded the journalists be judged without arrest.

The statement noting journalists are being charged because of releasing report has said the following:

“In modern democracies, people’s right to information, to be informed, to learn the truth is duty of the journalists. The journalists are responsible for analyzing, questioning social developments on behalf of the whole society, and share the information they obtain with the people.

“The journalists Erdem Gül and Can Dündar being tried did exactly this. Thus, a journalist cannot be blamed for sharing the news, charge cannot be pressed against the journalist. Journalist cannot be tried arrested.

“We want that the journalists are not detained, arrested because of their articles, reports, comments. We find blocking the channels of people to receive information by means of state secret concepts unacceptable”.

Journalism trade bodies also have demanded immediate release of arrested and imprisoned journalists. (EA/TK)