Journalists Banned From Covering PM's Rally

PM Erdogan visits Corum to attend his party's election rally. Four local journalists and a correspondent for leftist daily Evrensel are not permitted to cover the event, upon an arbitrary request by PM's Security Department.

Erol Önderoğlu

Five journalists were arbitrarily banned from covering PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan's local election propaganda meeting in Corum.

Corum Governorship asked for the identities of the journalists before the meeting and declared that they aren't permitted to attend the meeting area, upon a request by the PM's Security Department.

The journalists in question are local Dost Haber paper's editor-in-chief Servet Mete, reporter Buğra Kıhtır, local Yayla Haber editor-in-chief Hacı Odabaş, local Kanal 19 camera person Erkan Araz and national daily Evrensel correspondent Taner Şimşek.

The five journalists were told that their criminal records were checked and as a result, PM's office denied issuing them pass cards".

"This is the first time that we face such a discrimination," Corum Journalists Association chair Sadık Örgel told bianet.

"On many occasions those journalists covered official visits. We try not to discriminate on political views of our members."

Turkey's Association of Journalists condemned the practice in a written statement.(EÖ/EÜ)

Accreditation ban journalist

Erol Önderoğlu

[email protected]

all articles of the author

İstanbul Üniversitesi Fransız Filolojisi Bölümü'nden mezun. 1996'da muhabiri olduğu uluslararası Sınır Tanımayan Gazeteciler (RSF) örgütünün Türkiye temsilcisi olarak çalışıyor. 1999'dan beri İPS İletişim Vakfı'nın projesi olan bianet sitesinde, Hukuki Destek Masası koordinatörü, ifade özgürlüğü editörü ve yayın yönetmeni olarak çalıştı. 4.800'den fazla imzalı haber ve makalesi bulunuyor. Bizim Gazete ve Güncel Hukuk dergisi için haber ve makaleler yazdı. Halen bianet'te Medya Gözlem Raporları'nı hazırlıyor.