Iran MP criticizes Turkey's 'crackdown' on journalists

Iran MP criticizes Turkey's 'crackdown' on journalists

ISTANBUL
Iran MP criticizes Turkeys crackdown on journalists

Hürriyet photo

Spokesperson for Iran’s Parliamentary Judicial and Legal Committee, Mohammad Ali Esfanani, has claimed there is a lack of press freedom in Turkey, according to Iranian news portal Khabar online.

Criticizing a country’s ruling system is not a valid reason to be charged as being a terrorist, Esfanani stated.

Esfanani drew attention to the number of legal cases regarding freedom of speech violations in Turkey, stressing that the Turkish government should respect freedom of speech as a crucial part of democracy.

The lawmaker encouraged the Turkish government to take further steps in supporting democracy and respecting the rights of journalists.