ANKARA - Commemorating journalist Metin Göktepe who was murdered doing his job on the anniversary of his death, HDP Vice Co-Chair Tayip Temel said: "We commemorate dozens of martyrs of the press gratefully in the person of Metin Göktepe and bow respectfully before their memories."

 

Tayip Temel, Vice Co-Chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Press and Propaganda Commission, published a written statement on the 25 year anniversary of the murder of Evrensel Newspaper reporter Metin Göktepe. Underlining that Göktepe and dozens of other journalists were killed because they were loyal to the principles of the free press, Temel said: "The attacks against the free press in Turkey has a long history. That's why Metin and dozens of other journalists persuing the truth have always been targeted by the governments."

 

FREE PRESS PAYS HEAVY PRICES

 

Temel said: "AKP -MHP government is trying to make things look like everything's ok despite the crimes they commit against the people over pro-government media. However, the journalists from the free press, like Metin are trying to do their best to bring the truth to the people, just like Metin, risking their freedom or even their lives."

 

'WE REMEMBER THEM WITH GRATITUDE'

 

Temel added, "Free press martyrs who sacrificed their lives to bring the truth to the public, especially the martyrs of the press such as Apê Musa, Metin Göktepe, Gurbetelli Ersöz and Hrant Dink, light our way. We remember dozens of press martyrs with gratitude in the person of Metin Göktepe, who put his life  on the line, and we bow respectfully before their memories."