Journalists Banned From Covering PM's Rally

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)