Press Cards of Two More Journalists Revoked

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Press cards of two journalists based in the southeastern Diyarbakır province have been revoked by the Presidency Directorate of Communications.

Mahmut Oral, the Diyarbakır Representative of the Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) and the former Diyarbakır representative of daily Cumhuriyet, and Faruk Balıkçı, the former Diyarbakır representative of daily Hürriyet, learned today (January 24) that their cards have been canceled.

Press cards of the reporters of daily Evrensel, along with several other journalists, have also been revoked.

Oral: This is a professional slaughter

Stressing that "even the press card of the chairperson of the professional organization of journalists can be canceled," Oral told bianet that he had had a press card for 45 years.

"Today, I learned that my card was revoked but I am not the only one whose press card was revoked. We started the day with the news that the press cards of the employees of the Evrensel newspaper were revoked and then we learned from Whatsapp groups that cards of numerous colleagues of mine in Diyarbakır were canceled as well.

"This is clearly a professional slaughter that journalists are facing. It is more dangerous than firings. Cards that are the documents of our journalism have been canceled by the state.

"We wish that the Directorate of Communications, which is affiliated with the Presidency, will correct this mistake immediately."

Balıkçı: People gave us the title of journalist, not the state

Faruk Balıkçı, who also served the chairperson of the Southeastern Journalists Association, said that he will file a lawsuit regarding the cancellation of his press card.

"I had applied for a new card after the color of the cards were changed from yellow to turquoise but I have not received a response for one year. And today, I learned that my permanent press card was canceled.

"I have had a press card since 1990, for 30 years, and this is the first time that I have not been given a press card. In relation to this, I applied to Communications Directorate Diyarbakır Provincial Management. I requested to be answered with reasons on why I was not given a card. Now I am waiting, but I don't think that they will answer. If necessary, I will file a lawsuit and go to the ECtHR.

"The essence of journalism is to be a dissident. Journalists are the eyes, voice and ears of the people. They are wrong if they think that they can ban us from this profession by taking this card from us. They shouldn't think, 'We took the card from them, so they will not be able to do journalism again.' It is the people, not the state, that gave us the title of journalist." (HA/VK)