TGC Freedom of Press Award Winners Announced

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Freedom of Press Awards of Journalists Association of Turkey (TGC) has been granted to cameraperson Refik Tekin, jurists Yaman Akdeniz and Kerem Altıparmak in individual section, Coalition of International Freedom of Press Organisations in foundations section.

The election committee of Freedom of Press Awards has come together at TGC headquarters on July 12 2016.

The election committee was formed by

Union of Turkish Bar Associations Audit Commision member Cumhur Arıkan, Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS) chairperson Uğur Güç, The Communication Research Association (İLAD) General Secretary Füsun Özbilgen, chairperson of Communication Graduates Foundation Hüseyin Irmak, chairperson of Turkish Publishers Association (TYB) Metin Celal, former chairperson of TGC Orhan Erinç, Prof. Dr. Özden Çetinkaya from İstanbul Aydın University, Cumhuriyet daily writer Kadri Gürsel, chairperson of TGC Turgay Olcayto and General Secretary of TGC Sibel Güneş.

In individual section;

* The award has been granted to İMC TV cameraperson Refik Tekin on behalf of all press labourers who continue to do their duties despite all pressure, verbal and physical assaults they have been exposed to.

* The award has been granted to Prof. Dr. Yaman Akdeniz from Law School of İstanbul Bilgi University and Assist. Prof. Dr Kerem Altıparmak from Faculty of Political Sciences of Ankara University for their legal fight for freedom of press and expression and against violations of rights on the web and social media.

The Jury has announced that they have awarded Coalition of International Freedom of Press Organisations for “Portraying a novel solidarity against assaults that target freedom of press in Turkey and for carrying violations of rights onto an international platform.”(EA/UA)