Journalism Organizations Denounce Operation Against Özgürlükçü Demokrasi

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Journalism organizations have denounced the operation launched against Özgürlükçü Demokrası newspaper.

In their statements, Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS), Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) Press-labor Free Journalists Initiative and Mezopotamya Women Journalists’ Platform have denounced the operation launched against Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper.

TGS

In its statement, the TGS stated that the government tries to silence the media outlets, which it cannot silence through buying, by confiscating them and said, “Turkey cannot be reduced to single voice, single color, single opinion”.

DİSK Press-Labor

DİSK Press-Labor denounced the allegations that a trustee has been appointed to Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper:

“This is a part of a chain of pressures directed against a large number of dissident media outlets occurring in the wake of State of Emergency. Its aim is to silence free press and the history proves that it has never succeeded”.

Free Journalists’ Initiative

Free Journalists Association was closed by a decree in November 2016. Carrying on its activities as Free Journalists’ Initiative, the organization said that “the government will not be able to hide the facts from people” and called on the government to “give up imposing such crackdowns on alternative and dissident media”.

Mezopotamya Women Journalists’ Platform

Stating that “Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper is the mirror of facts which the government overlooks and want to be overlooked”, the platform denounced the government over its policy of oppressing dissident media by means of appointing a trustee.

What happened?

The central office of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper in the district of Beyoğlu in İstanbul and the printing house where its newspapers are printed were raided by the police at midnight (March 28).

Mesopotamia Agency reported that after a search was conducted at the the central office of the newspaper until 3 a.m., the attorneys of the newspaper who went to the central office early in the morning encountered the officials from the Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF).

Speaking to bianet, Hüseyin Aykol, who writes in Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, told that the newspaper has been transferred to the Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) and a trustee has been appointed. (ÇT/TK)