Prime Ministry’s Accreditation Ban Taken To Court
Sultan Özer, member of the Discipline Committee of the Turkish Journalists Union (TGS) and diplomacy reporter for daily Günlük Evrensel, petitioned the Administrative Court of Ankara for the removal of the accreditation ban put into effect by the Prime Ministry against some journalists. She wants to be allowed to take part in the meeting of the Prime Ministry and the Council of Ministers.
Özer, who has been a press card holder for 11 years and Prime Ministry reporter for 8 years, was not allowed to observe the Council of Ministers on November 10 on the grounds that her accreditation was cancelled.
Hasan Tüfekçi and Turan Yılmaz of daily Hürriyet, Abdullah Karakuş of daily Milliyet, Fatma Çözen of Star TV and Ali Ekber Ertürk of daily Akşam were also affected from this decision.
Özer: An arbitrary decision, a form of censorship
Özer thanked the other journalists for their concern and described the decision as arbitrary and a form of censorship.
Turgut Dedeoğlu, head of TGS’ Ankara branch, says that the decision that would come from this attempt will help pass the obstacles in front of the press freedom, remove the censorship the media is facing and stop the institutions from trying to form their own newspapers.
“The military keeps some journalists out of the Headquarters via accreditation and the Prime Minister is canceling accreditation because some journalists do supposedly not follow the rules.”
“Media stands guard on behalf of public”
“If the Constitution specifies that the system is based on democracy and the rule of law then those who are angry at the media should still protect it” says Dedeoğlu.
“The concepts like national security or fight against terrorism cannot change this.”
“The politicians, the military and civil bureaucracy should not forget that the media too stands guard. The best answer to those publications described as bad journalism can only come from other newspapers and journalists who do not like this kind of journalism.”
The press release was supported by Ercan İpekçi, TGS’ President, Mustafa Özgen, Term Spokesperson for the Ankara Branches Platform and Head of the Ankara Branch of Petroleum-Work Union, and some branch administrators with him.(EÖ/TB)