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Cover poster of President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan entitled “Le Dictateur” (The Dictator) of Le Point Magazine has caused uproar in district of Avignon.
A group of people of Turkey origin had the cover removed from the advertising board by force. The group had tried to replace it with an Erdoğan poster.
According to the recent development covered by the France’s media, which expressed that the group acted aggressively, Avignon Mayor has had the cover poster put on back in company with police.
While the event has ignited a debate over freedom of expression, Le Point was criticized as well on social media, yet it was expressed that the publication was within the scope of freedom of expression.
OSCE Representative: Censorship is unacceptable
Support to @LePoint after several incidents in #France where supporters of President Erdogan took down the French weekly's cover from news stands and billboards. Intimidation against #freemedia and trying to export censorship to other countries is totally unacceptable. #Turkey pic.twitter.com/NWLtQBXTCX
— OSCE media freedom (@OSCE_RFoM) 27 Mayıs 2018
On a statement on Twitter, Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir said that they support Le Point and said, “Intimidation against free media and trying to export censorship to other countries is unacceptable”. (PT/TK)
