“Government Must Stop Issuing Official Press Badges”

Turkey’s Media and Publishing Workers Union (DİSK Basın-İş) urged the government to stop issuing press badges for media staff. 

The union released a statement reminding that media workers were allowed to work in any location without any permissions but within a notice according to Turkey’s laws on media organizations.

“Government-issued press credentials [publicly known as “yellow card” in Turkish] are control measures,” the union said. 

The union also added that the government didn’t recognize press credentials issued by media organizations and imposed its own measures with the cards handed by PM Office Press and Information Authorities (BYEGM) to widen controls. 

A highlight from the union’s statement was as follows: 

“The government must leave behind issuing its own press credentials. Press badges issued by news organizations are enough for a journalist to perform their duties. Media union who legitimized this badge must also demission themselves from agreement.” (ÇT/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.