‘We will never give up freedom of press,’ says Erdoğan

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Yesterday was January 10 Working Journalists Day in Turkey.

On this occasion, President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan released a statement.

Shared with the public by the Presidential Communications Directorate, Erdoğan's message read, "As Turkey, we will never give up the freedom of press, nor will we allow this concept to be exploited and used for black propaganda against our country both at home and abroad."

Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun also sent an SMS to journalists on this occasion, including the ones who cannot receive their press cards for months, even for years.

'Struggle against lies, disinformation...'

Arguing that Turkey's media, which was "used as a tutelage device in the past, made significant progress towards achieving a more democratic, liberal and multivocal structure", Erdoğan briefly said the following:

"With the advancing technology, it is vital to use the opportunities offered by the new media channels in the name of journalism without compromising the professional principles and press ethics.

"Today, when the speed of dissemination of information is increasing at an unprecedented pace, the understanding of accurate and honest reporting has become more valuable than ever.

"Therefore, journalists have an enormous responsibility in the struggle for truth against lies and disinformation.

"As Turkey, we will never give up the freedom of press, nor will we allow this concept to be exploited and used for black propaganda against our country both at home and abroad.

"Bearing in mind that our media and journalists, having the sense of equity, play a role in strengthening the peace, tranquillity and trust environment in our country, I firmly believe that they will continue to practice their profession of informing the public accurately by taking into account the sensitivities of our nation and contribute to our democracy."

Message to journalists not given their press cards

Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun also sent a message to journalists on the occasion of January 10.

While Altun's message "congratulated the journalists on the Working Journalists Day," the message was also sent to the journalists who had not been given their press cards for months, even years.

Over 600 journalists cannot get their cards for 2 years

The Directorate General of Press and Information used to have the authority to give press cards in Turkey; but a Presidential Decree issued in 2018 has passed this authority to the Directorate of Communications.

With an amendment introduced to the Press Card Regulations in December 2018, the old yellow cards have also become useless.

According to the Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS), over 600 journalists who applied to change their yellow press cards with the new turquoise cards had not yet still received their cards as of December 2020.

Aydın Engin filed a lawsuit

Not given his permanent press card as well, journalist Aydın Engin filed a lawsuit against the Presidential Communications Directorate in December.

Speaking to bianet, Aydın Engin briefly said:

"I have been a journalist for 51 years. I started doing this job seven years before Communications Director Fahrettin Altun was born. And I have had a permanent press card for around 25 years. This is an acquired right. No official institution can take this back without a reasonable justification.

"But the Communications Directorate has denied me this right in the Justice and Development Party (AKP) rule. And I applied to the Communications Directorate to demand this right, I could not get a response. Unable to receive any response, I have filed a lawsuit.

"Fahrettin Altun says that the number of applications currently in the evaluation process is 894. But what have they been reviewing for two years? We are not even offered an excuse. Our applications remain unanswered. Fahrettin Altun and his men are reviewing whether I and other people like me are journalists or not. This would make a matter in dispute in itself.

"What review are you talking about? A review that takes two years means, 'We have rejected you, we are not giving you your card, but we cannot declare it officially.' This is the government's method of hindering journalists. They are making it difficult for me to do my job."

(RT/SD)