Journalists' dismissal from Hürriyet in European Commission report

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Prepared by the European Commission within the frame of European Union (EU) enlargement policy, the "Turkey 2020 Report" has also mentioned the dismissal of 45 journalists from Hürriyet in October 2019.

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Expressing concerns over the continued "serious backsliding of the respect for democratic standards, rule of law, and fundamental freedoms" in Turkey, the 126-page report of the Commission has commented on the dismissal of 45 journalists, 43 of which were members of the Journalists' Unions of Turkey (TGS), in its 37th page in following words:

The representation of journalists continues to be divided between the professional journalists' associations and the pro-government union. Journalism in Turkey is a precarious profession, with low wages, a high risk of judicial harassment and a lack of job security.

Working conditions, insufficient trade union rights and application of labour legislation, difficulty in obtaining a press card and arbitrary accreditations remain major concerns. Editorial pressure, self-censorship and judicial harassment for investigative journalism, especially on politically sensitive issues have become a norm.

In October 2019, the Hürriyet newspaper fired 45 journalists with no compensation, 43 of whom were dismissed for their trade union activities.

Tuna: Dismissal over union activities confirmed

TGS İstanbul Branch Chair Banu Tuna, who is also among the 45 people dismissed from Hürriyet, has spoken to bianet about the report.

"It is heartbreaking to read the situation of journalists living in Turkey from the European Commission; however, it is of considerable importance for our struggle for rights," Tuna has underlined.

She has noted that with this recent report, their dismissal from the newspaper over their trade union activities and without any compensation has now been confirmed by the European Commission.

Tune has indicated that a group of journalists dismissed from Hürriyet have filed a lawsuit for reinstatement while another group has filed an action of debt. "We had trade union demands and these demands have been seen by the European Commission," Tuna has stressed further.

Noting that the report has strengthened their hands, Tuna has said that the first hearings of both lawsuits were held; however, no further progress has been made due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

She has further informed that the second hearing of the suit for reinstatement will be held in the Bakırköy Courthouse in İstanbul today (October 8).

Reminding us that they were fired from Hürriyet without compensation, Tuna has said, "We will present the part of the commission's report about us to the court. However, the judgement will still rest with the Presiding Judge."

Tuna has also noted that the dismissals in the Hürriyet in October 2019 is one of the most well-known journalist dismissals in the last 10 years.

"I am saying this by excluding the trials of journalists. When considered in terms of journalists' labor struggle, the Hürriyet trial has become one of the most well-known struggles of the recent period," Tuna has said and added, "In current conditions of Turkey, it is impossible to keep an issue high on the agenda for a long time. But everyone knows our struggle for rights."

Concluding her remarks, Tuna has said, "I wish we start to see changes for the better now. The entire press and its workers are in a bad condition. Kurdish press is in twice as bad condition. We need good things now."

The report of the European Commission has indicated that despite recent releases, 120 journalists are still behind bars in Turkey and the Presidency's Communications Directorate cancelled 715 press cards last year.

What happened?

Doğan Holding's newspapers, including daily Hürriyet, its television channels and the then Doğan News Agency (DHA) were sold to the pro-government Demirören Holding last year. In a first in the newspaper's history, nearly 50 reporters and editors working for the newspaper were fired from their jobs with "notifications sent to their homes" in October 2019.

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(HA/SD)