Journalists must not be victimized in state of emergency: Turkish press groups
ISTANBUL
DHA photo
Detentions and arrests of journalists violate freedom of information and the targeting of journalists make them victims of the ongoing post-coup attempt state of emergency process, a group of Turkish journalism organizations have said in a statement.“The media in Turkey opposed the coup attempt, but freedom of information is being violated 55 days after the attempt in the state of emergency,” read a statement issued on Sept. 9 by the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC), the Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS), and DİSK Basın-İş, the press workers’ union of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK).
“Detention warrants have been issues for around 200 journalists and 107 have been arrested. Due to the shutdown of media outlets, 2,308 journalists are now unemployed. Meanwhile, journalists are also being targeted with baseless accusations,” read the statement.
It also noted that 115 permanent press cards and 660 press cards have been canceled by the Prime Ministry’s Media Press and Information General Directorate (BYEGM) since the coup attempt, while journalists holding grey service passports are now obliged to apply for authorization from the BYEGM in order to travel abroad.
“We insist that journalism is not a crime. Journalists are the voice and the conscience of the people. It is the government’s duty to guarantee a free environment in which journalists can practice their profession,” the statement added.
