Journalists in Antep Instructed to ‘Not Make Report of ISIS’

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Authorities of Governorship, Security, Municipality and Gaziantep University in Antep have told media workers to not make reports of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and to not use the name of Antep in their reports.

Furthermore, the journalists were asked to get approval from the WhatsApp group formed of which Governorship Press Advisor is a member too.

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Antep MP, Mahmut Toğrul has lodged a summary of proceeding to Minister of Interior, Efkan Ala as to the matter.

Gaziantep Sabah daily’s Nurgün Balcıoğlu speaking to bianet explained that the media employees have been convened by being said “we will discuss the issues of the city with the mayors”, however the journalists were said “If you write anything bad about Antep, no one comes to the city, buys nothing from us, we make loss”.

“Let us not pronounce the bad things happening in the city”

Nurgün Balcıoğlu said they sent a reporter from Gaziantep Sabah daily to the meeting on June 1 and explained what happened afterwards as follows:

“An invitation reached us reading ‘We will hold a meeting with the mayors, we will discuss the issues of the city with the press’. Then we sent a fellow of ours.

“All journalists got surprised when they went to the meeting. The Governor, Mayor, District Mayors, Public Prosecutor, Security Director, Gaziantep University Chancellor, Chamber of Industry and Commerce President were present there as well.

“They called the journalists as follows: ‘Let us not pronounce the bad things happening in the city. Let us not generate an image like Gaziantep is a city of terrorism. If you keep writing that there are ISIS members here, no one buys anything from us, no tourist visits our city’”.

Balcıoğlu concluded that the Governor approves the reports on the WhatsApp groups which has been formed to check the news before being published. (ÇT/TK)