Germany Denounces Turkey for Not Extending Accreditation of 3 Journalists

On the photo: Brase, Seibert and Gülbeyaz (From left to right)

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The accreditation of three journalists from Germany, who are currently working in Turkey, has not been extended. On February 1, Second German Television (ZDF) İstanbul Bureau Chief Jörg Brase and Tagesspiegel newspaper's reporter to Turkey Thomas Seibert were informed that their application for a new press card for 2019 was not accepted.

In the mail that they received, it was indicated that their application for the extension of their press cards for 2019 had not been granted; however, the mail gave no justification for the rejection.

While 57-year-old Brase has been the Chief of ZDF's İstanbul office since January 2018, Seibert is one of the two reporters of the Tagesspiegel, who have been uninterruptedly reporting for the newspaper since 1997.

Halil Gülbeyaz, a freelance journalist accredited in Turkey in the name of Northern German Broadcasting (NDR) for the last 12 years, also announced on March 3 that his application for press card extension had been rejected.

Speaking to Deutsche Welle, Gülbeyaz has stated, "I did my job as a journalist. With this rejection, I will not be able to practice my profession in Turkey anymore. It limits the freedom of obtainment of information."

Journalists' Union of Germany

The rejection of Turkey to extend the press cards of three journalists from Germany has been widely denounced in the country.

Speaking to the Tagesspiegel regarding the issue, Hendrik Zörner, the Spokesperson for the Journalists' Union of Germany (DJV), has stated,

"The accreditation of reporters in Turkey randomly not being extended is a difficulty completely raised on purpose. It shows that the AKP [Justice and Development Party] regime is trying to hinder critical journalism; no understandable justification has been given for the rejection."

Casdorff: "How can a country not observing fundamental rights be accepted to EU?"

Regarding the issue, Editor-in-Chief of Tagesspiegel newspaper Mathias Müller von Blumencron has said, "It is a major intervention in the freedom of press. We know these methods only from countries like Venezuela and Libya." He has also made a call to Turkey to reconsider its decision.

In his commentary published on March 3, Stephan-Andreas Casdorff, the publisher of the newspaper, asked, "How can a country that does not observe fundamental rights be accepted to the European Union (EU)?"

Government spokesperson: "We follow the developments with alarm"

The federal government of Germany has also made a call to Turkey not to prevent the activities of international press workers in the country.

Spokesperson for the federal government, Steffen Seibert, made a statement yesterday and indicated that "they are following the developments with a mounting alarm." Seibert also stated that the government of Germany got in contact with the government of Turkey regarding the issue. (HK/SD)

* Source: Deutsche Welle Türkçe