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DİSK Basın-İş union, the Federation of Journalists of Turkey (TGF) and the Press Council have released statements on the occasion of the July 24 Day of Struggle for Press Freedom.
After Sultan Abdul Hamid II of the Ottoman Empire declared the 2nd Constitutional Monarchy, newspapers started to be published without any censorship for the first time on July 24, 1908. Since then, July 24 has been observed as the "Journalists and Press Day" in Turkey.
DİSK Basın-İş: Despotism continues
The union said in its statement that journalists have not been able to celebrate July 24 for decades.
"Dozens of journalists are held in prisons with various excuses. Hundreds are on trial. Lawsuits are filed over almost every news report that the government doesn't like. Thousands of journalists lost their jobs due to television channels, newspapers, news agencies, newspapers, and websites being shut down, especially during the state of emergency period. Most of these journalists are still unemployed.
"Access to the news over the internet is arbitrarily blocked. People are arrested and even remanded in custody because of their social media posts. As if this is not enough, the intentions of limiting social media and banning it completely are expressed by the authorities.
"In short, despotism continues. They are exerting pressure because they are afraid of the truth, news and journalists. Their fear is our hope."
TGF: Free press is the guarantee of democracy
The TGF emphasized that steps shouldn't be taken to limit journalists' basic rights and freedoms.
"At this point, the struggle for existence, especially faced by our local press, causes us to have anxiety about the future. The survival of the local press has become difficult due to developing technology and digital media.
"Supporting our local press and the continuation of the support, which is lifeline support for them, are of great importance.
"The free press, which respects social values and carries out its duties with a sense of responsibility and an impartial understanding, is the biggest guarantee of the protection of the democratic social order."
Press council: Censorship and bans will not work
The Press Council noted in its statement that Turkey is the country that has the most imprisoned journalists and ranks 154th out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index.
"It should be known that; censorship and prohibitions brought to the press will not yield results. As Atatürk [Mustafa Kemal, the founder of the republic] said, 'The solution of the problems arising from the freedom of the press is again the freedom of the press'. It should not be forgotten that freedom of expression and the press is under the guarantee of our Constitution.
"Bans certainly open new channels, water flows to free channels. The Turkish press will not accept to fall behind the freedoms achieved 112 years ago with the struggle during the Ottoman period.
"As the Press Council, we reiterate that we are determined to continue the struggle for democracy to be established with all institutions and rules in Turkey, for the removal of all obstacles against freedom of expression and the press, and for not a single colleague to be imprisoned." (TP/VK)
