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President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is currently in New York to attend the 74th United Nations (UN) General Assembly, gave an interview to FOX News channel yesterday evening (September 25).
Addressing a series of issues such as arrested journalists in Turkey and the attack against Saudi Arabia, Erdoğan answered the question of "Special Report" host Bret Baier about the arrested journalists in Turkey.
In his question, Baier reminded Erdoğan that there are more arrested journalists in Turkey than any other country of the world and asked President Erdoğan, "Why are you doing this?"
In response to this question, Erdoğan said, "I cannot give the final decision, the judiciary gives the final decision" and added, "The figures you are giving now are very imaginary figures, I must say".
Continuing his remarks, Erdoğan stated, "This and that many journalists are behind bars... There is no such thing. Some journalists came to Turkey, we showed it to them with its documents, explained it to them but... They come to our country with fabricated figures, say these and go."
Figures on journalists behind bars in Turkey According to the September 2019 data of the Contemporary Journalists Association (ÇGD), there are currently 134 arrested and convicted journalists in Turkey. The recent figures announced by the Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS), 126 journalists and media workers are behind bars in Turkey. |
CLICK - BIA Media Monitoring Report - Violation of Rights
* Infographic: Yağmur Karagöz / bianet
The April-May-June 2019 BİA Media Monitoring Report of bianet has shown that 213 journalists stood trial and 14 journalists were taken into custody in this three-month period. 197 media representatives face 10 aggravated life sentences and 2,362 years in prison in total.
*Click here to watch the interview
(PT/SD)
