Latest Status of Press Cards: New Cards Awaited

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After the Presidency Directorate of Communications revoked the press cards of several journalists, especially the ones working for Evrensel and BirGün, the cards have been validated again as of yesterday (January 26).

Cards revoked while renewal awaited

After the color of yellow press cards was turned into turquoise, journalists applied for a new press card. The old yellow press cards of journalists would be valid until their applications were concluded.

However, seven months have passed since then and while the press cards of some journalists have been renewed, some of them are still waiting for their cards. Calling the Directorate of Communications for an explanation, the journalists could receive no clear answer.

CLICK - With Their Press Cards Still Not Issued, Journalists Wait for an Answer from the State

While journalists were waiting for their new cards, an important development took place last Friday (January 24). First the workers of daily Evrensel, then those of BirGün saw that their press cards were "revoked" when they made an inquiry about the status of their applications.

Among the ones who learnt that their press cards had been revoked were also Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) Chair Gökhan Durmuş, TGS Representative to Diyarbakır Mahmut Oral and Southeastern Journalists Association Chair Faruk Balıkçı. While journalism organizations denounced the incident, they announced that they were working on a system where they would themselves issue press cards.

Cards in use

On Sunday (January 26), journalists from Evrensel announced that their press cards have been revalidated. Sharing a message on Twitter, Editor-in-Chief of Evrensel Fatih Polat said, "Our press cards revoked within working hours have been opened for use on a public holiday. There is no explanation again. Those who raised their voices about it can applaud themselves."

Altun: There are 894 applications under evaluation

Releasing a written statement today (January 27), Presidency Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun has indicated that the news regarding the cancellation of press cards do not reflect the reality.

13 thousand 372 journalists have been given a press card and the applications of 894 journalists are currently being evaluated, according to the statement of Altun. "Every institution could have people that will get a press card for the first time as well as the ones whose applications are still under evaluation", Altun has stated and added:

"In this process, not only the technical criteria are taken into consideration, but a series of other criteria are considered such as whether the applicant really engages in professional activity, whether he or she has any connections with the terrorist organization, whether there is a verdict of conviction or whether they have displayed any attitude staining the honor of the profession. In the current situation, it is not the case that the cards which are still under evaluation have been revoked.

'There are unconcluded applications'

"The non-finalized applications submitted for the renewal of press cards are still active. Thus, the news reported especially by some news outlets regarding the alleged cancellation of press cards do not reflect the reality.

"Even the fact that there are press card holders in the institutions which are alleging that they are not given press cards rebuts this evil-minded action. When the process of evaluating the applications comes to an end, the applicants will be notified accordingly."

TGS Chair Durmuş: We are awaiting new cards

Speaking to bianet, Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) Chair Gökhan Durmuş has reminded us that in the transition period to the new press cards, the expiry date of old yellow press cards has been determined as January 2020. Accordingly, as their new turquoise press cards have not yet been delivered to them, they suffer from this delay.

Indicating that yellow press cards are in use for now, TGS Chair Gökhan Durmuş has stated the following:

"The expiry date of my press card was June 2019, but we were told that we could continue using them till the new cards arrived. In transition to turquoise cards, the date of expiry was set as January 2020.

"Old cards were revoked before the new ones arrived and the old cards have been validated again following the criticisms. We wait for the new cards to be delivered as soon as possible. Our attorneys will have a meeting about the issue." (HA/SD)