Journalist Ans Boersma Deported from Turkey

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Journalist Ans Boersma, Turkey correspondent to the Netherlands-based Het Financieele Dagblad (FD) finance newspaper, has been deported.

It has been stated that Boersma, who has been living in Turkey since 2017, has been deported from the country "for reasons of security."

Sharing a message on Twitter with the hashtags #pressfreedom and #freeturkeymedia, Boersma has said,

"And, then, you are suddenly back on the plane back to the Netherlands. Declared an undesirable person in Turkey."

En dan zit je ineens in het vliegtuig terug naar Nederland. Ongewenst persoon verklaard in Turkije. #pressfreedom #freeturkeymedia https://t.co/xBUdFkhlbs

— Ans Boersma (@AnsBoersma) 17 Ocak 2019

FD: No official justification provided

Reporting the deportation of its Turkey correspondent as news, the FD has indicated that "the authorities in Turkey have provided no official justification for the deportation of Boersma." The newspaper has also stated:

"Boersma was taken into custody at the foreigners' office where she went on Wednesday to extend her residence permit.

"At the police department, she was informed that she would be deported from Turkey. They said that it was for reasons of security. Turkey has declared Boersma as an undesirable person.

"Boersma received her Turkey press card for 2019 last week. She has been working as Turkey correspondent to the Financieele Dagblad, Trouw newspaper and One World magazine.

"Boersma and FD will struggle against this decision from the Netherlands."

Bonjer: Open violation of freedom of press

Jan Bonjer, Editor-in-Chief of the FD, has stated that the deportation of Boersma is "shocking" and added:

"Boersma was performing her duty meticulously and earnestly. This decision is an open violation of the freedom of press. It is very sad that the journalists in Turkey cannot do their jobs without being disturbed."

CLICK - No Freedom in Sight for News, No End to Court-Prison for Journalists

(EKN/SD)