Journalists Protest Media Ban in Reyhanlı Blasts

Several media unions across Turkey protested the media ban imposed on Reyhanlı blasts, appealing the court to lift the ban immediately.

On Saturday two powerful car bombs killed at least 46 people in Reyhanlı - a town near Turkey’s border with Syria. Officials said that they had detained nine people suspected of carrying out the attacks.

Reyhanlı Court of Peace ordered that all kinds of voice, written and visual publications concerning the scenes of incidents after the blasts were banned, including content and images of the injured and the dead. The court also ruled that the visual and written content would jeopardize the confidentiality and outcome of the ongoing prosecution. 

"Content must be shared transparently"

In a statement, Journalists Association of Turkey (TGC) said even though some restrictions might happen on the images, the content must be shared transparently.

"We are appealing the court to lift the ban immediately. We are expecting the officials to facilitate the hard work of journalists located in the area.

"Bans cause misinformation"

Atilla Sertel, chair of Journalists Federation of Turkey (TGF), said the ban mentality would only cause a irresolution.

"At a time when the society has many inquiries on the blasts, the media ban will only worsen those inquiries. Bans cause major misinformation and result in the misleading of public.

"Major blow on press freedom"

Press Institute Association of Turkey, on the other hand, claimed that the court ordered a censure and a major blow on press freedom by imposing the ban.

"The public right of information can not be sacrificed to the sake of 'prosecution'. On the other hand, it is impossible to be successful at such practice in our age," the association said in a statement. (EA/BM)