'There's no freedom of press, journalists are in a situation worse than dead'

img

DİYARBAKIR - Tomorros is May 3 World Press Freedom Day. Turkey, which ranks 154th in 180 countries in press freedom still has more than 100 journalists behind bars. Representatives of professional organizations, stressed that journalists in Turkey are in a position where they are worse than dead.

With a decision taken by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, May 3 was determined as World Press Freedom Day all over the world. However, journalists and professional organizations, also draws attention to the pressure on journalists in Turkey and all over the world. May 3 does not mean much in Turkey which ranks 154th in the press freedom among 180 countries. Mesopotamia Women Journalists Platform (MKGP) spokeswoman Ayşe Güney, Tigris Euphrates Journalists Association (DFG) Co-Chair Serdar Altan and Turkey Journalists' Union (TGS) Diyarbakır Representative Mahmut Oral drew attention to the situation of the press in the World Press Freedom Day.
 
MKGP Spokesperson Ayşe Güney, stated that May 3 means a lot to them as they started the platform on May 3, 2017. Reminding that despite the intense attacks of the government on press, the press has its own way to set itself free, Güney said: "Kurdish press leads the free press tradition. We can't speak of freedom in Turkey but we can speak of the journalists' struggle to create freedom. The free press that conveys the truth no matter how violent and oppressive the government gets, made this their principle. That's why these journalists remain firm even though they are constantly being detained or arrested.
 
DFG Co-Chair Serdar Altan, who stated that the government is trying to create a monistic press by oppressing free press, said: "Journalists used to be assasinated, not they are in a position worse than dead. Let alone reporting news, journalists have to think first before sharing their ideas on social media. Journalists get arrested for their reports or their social media posts. And like these are not enough, they are trying to make a law for this. Its on the agenda these days. The resistance reflex of the free press merges with the reporting reflex. Their every attack comes back to them as resistance. Free press will be the guarantor of freedom in all terms and conditions."
 
TGS Diyarbakır Representative Mahmut Oral said: "The government in no way can stand the truth being written. They have files about all of us that they use when necessary. They are trying to scare the journalists away with these files and threats of arrests. The craze initiated by the government continues with the bosses. Journalists are experiencing a chronic situation in terms of employment. Many of our colleagues are either fired or forced to go abroad." Oral who stated that a reactionary system is being created, demanded that the journalists in prison to be released.
 
MA / Fethi Balaman

View More Articles

13/07/2020
16:25 COVID-19 and prisons: 3 prisoners in Diyarbakır diagnosed with coronavirus
15:46 Erdoğan and Putin speaks over the phone
14:46 'Anyone who is against the war should take responsibility to break the isolation'
13:20 Kazan spoke on controversial law: An attempt to eradicate the right of defense
11:40 HDP MP Koç: Multiple bar system yields to consolidation of fascism
11:37 HDP Co-Mayor detained in raid, town hall under blockade
12/07/2020
17:59 Turkey's Religious Affairs: Hagia Sophia will be appointed two imams
17:37 Report of Tanrıkulu: 281 violations of “right to live” in Turkey in June
16:46 One more arrest in Mardin after the mother arrested with baby
16:27 AKP Spokesperson Çelik on Hagia Sophia: The longing of our nation fulfilled
15:43 Death toll rises to 21 as migrant boat sinks in Lake Van
15:26 Pope Francis ‘deeply pained’ over Turkey’s move on Hagia Sophia
15:08 Call to the Supreme Court as lawyers lose extreme weight on death fast
14:28 Historian Dinç: Opening Hagia Sophia for worship on 'July 24' means something
13:20 Earthquake in Georgia
12:51 4 prosecutors not investigate the perpetrators, but terrorize the killed family
11:50 Attack on largest Russian airbase in Latakia
10:50 Hagia Sophia: Letter from World Council of Churches to Turkey
10/07/2020
17:58 Lawyers pass the police baricades, march to the parliament
17:32 Sent to prison with her 10-month-old baby
17:11 Hunger strike to Didem Akman who has been on death fast
16:51 Lawyers not allowed in Kuğulu Park
16:50 Restriction to detainees to access lawyers
16:49 İmralı isolation is on the agenda of the parliament
16:49 Bar heads continued their vigil on benches
14:40 Raids and detentions in Adana and Mersin
09/07/2020
18:19 Police blockade on bar heads continue, lawyers are not allowed to join them
17:55 Hrant Dink trial posponed: Rejection to summon the intelliengence to the court
16:59 Demand for justice for the Kurdish journalist Aziz Oruç
16:30 Bar heads under police blockade in Ankara
16:30 HDP announces the schedule of "Democracy Meetings"
12:36 Bar heads invite the lawyers to Ankara: We will be on duty
12:35 Lawyers file application to Prosecutor's Office to visit Öcalan
11:11 Kurdish politicians: All steps towards the national unity
11:10 Turkish Parliament passes the two articles of the much debated 'multiple bars' bill
08/07/2020
19:57 Online meeting for the freedom of Öcalan
19:34 Witnesses take the stand in Hrant Dink trial
18:22 Protest in Ankara Courthouse for lawyers on death fast
17:24 Controversial 'mass grave' trial referred to Constitutional Court
12:30 The door of the HDP member marked by 'Turkish flag'
12:30 Mortal shell and mine ready to explode found in Diyarbakır
07/07/2020
19:05 Journalist Demir's trial postponed
18:52 Buried in the same grave: Father died in massacre, son died in airstrike
18:29 Çetin arrested: My political activities have been legal and public
16:21 Rojbin Çetin sent to court for arrest
06/07/2020
19:22 Application for Demirtaş’s release denied
18:35 Batman Municipality Co-Mayor and councilors detained
14:59 Bar heads back to their provinces: Everything is just beginning
14:58 Second phase in HDP's struggle program: Democracy Meetings
12:10 Death toll rises to 11 as migrant boat sinks in Lake Van