DJV demands an end to Turkey's 'fight against press freedom'

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German Federation of Journalists (DJV) Chair Frank Überall previously stated that according to police sources, there is an "execution list" targeting 55 dissidents from Turkey, including opposition journalists.

Shortly after Überall called for protection of exiled journalists from Turkey, DJV Spokesperson Hendrik Zörner has answered the questions of bianet.

"We found a report about the execution list in a German digital magazine," Spokesperson Zörner has said, underlining that "it was the only report about the issue, but they decided to make their statement public because of the danger for the Turkish journalists in Germany."

'No police statements on journalists' protection'

Sharing information about the situation right now and what action the police in Germany have taken so far, Zörner has said, "We know that the police warned some of the journalists from the list. But we do not know if our Turkish colleagues in Germany now are protected by the police. We hope it and we demand it, but the police does not give any statements on that topic."

Noting that "the journalists are in fear of their lives," DJV Spokesperson Zörner has said, "We demand that the Turkish authorities stop their fight against press freedom and critical and independent journalists."

Police take two people under protection

According to the DJV, there is an "execution list" targeting 55 dissidents from Turkey, including opposition journalists.

DJV Chair Frank Überall announced that the police in Germany took action about the two people on the list. Welcoming the protective measures of the police for the two, Überall underlined that it was not enough.

Erk Acarer was attacked, sent a threatening note

Journalist Erk Acarer has recently announced that a threatening message was left in the yard of his home in Berlin, Germany.

Unknown people left a paper that read "You wait" with a boiled egg and Acarer handed the threatening message over to the police.

"The German government, which I think is passive regarding the AKP-MHP [ruling Justice and Development Party - Nationalist Movement Party government], their gangs and precautions, will be responsible for anything that happens to me," he wrote.

On July 8, journalist Erk Acarer was assaulted by a group of people in front of his home. Announcing the attack on Twitter, he said he didn't have life-threatening injuries and was heading to the hospital.

"I know the perpetrators. I'll never surrender to fascism. Nobody should be worried, these days will pass," he wrote.

Having multiple arrest warrants against himself in Turkey in cases concerning his articles and social media messages, BirGün newspaper columnist Erk Acarer has been living in Germany since mid-2017.

Başlangıç: We are trying to get information

Celal Başlangıç, the editor-in-chief of Artı TV and Artı Gerçek website, was notified by Germany's police that his life was in danger.

Two officers who visited Başlangıç at his home in Cologne also confirmed the existence of an "assassination list" consisting of the dissidents of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan living abroad, Başlangıç said.

Speaking to Artı TV, Başlangıç, whose name was also on the list, said: "We knew the names in the 21-people list. Then information was spread about a 43-people list but the names on this list were not known. The German police officers who came to my home mentioned a third list consisting of 55 Erdoğan dissidents and said that my name was on that list.

"We understood from what officers said that there is an investigation. There is a police officer handling the case and a case file. Our attorney is dealing with the matter and trying to get information. It seems like a file that the German police take seriously." (PT/SD)