Turkish journalists were told by the government exactly how to cover a ground incursion Turkey launched into the the Kurdish enclave in Syria known as Afrin, one of the journalists at the meeting reported.
The incursion started a day after aerial bombardment of the region by Turkish jets. Turkey calls the military operation “Olive Branch.”
Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ on 21 January invited members of 15 media outlets and shared a list of 15 points the government wants journalists to follow, according to Barış Terkoğlu, Odatv news manager who was also in the room at the meeting with Bozdağ.
According to Terkoğlu, the government asked the media to emphasize that Turkish military forces in Afrin are targeting only “terrorist” elements and they work to protect civilians; show extra care when approaching foreign news sources as these will “likely” publish reports against Turkey through the lobbying of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the Syrian Kurdish group PYD and the YPG.
Turkish journalists were also asked to prioritize Turkey's national interests when reporting on news stories that have appeared in the foreign press; to always remind readers of the Turkish Armed Forces’ sensitivity about civilians in case of reports that allege attacks on civilians; emphasize that Turkey’s operations are not only against Kurdish groups in the area but also against ISIS; avoid publishing images that might risk the lives of Turkish soldiers; emphasize that the operations are being carried out with the use of national and local weapons production capabilities; don’t report any information that might include intelligence for the other side; don’t put to the forefront protests in Turkey against the Afrin operation.
Bozdağ also recommended that journalists stay connected with Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokeersponerson Mahir Ünal and himself when preparing their reports.
18 detained over social media posts criticizing Afrin op
The Turkish government has been relentless towards critics of the Afrin operation. The country’s Foreign Affairs Minister has said “Everyone who is against the Afrin operation is supporting terrorism.” On the morning of 22 January, 18 people were detained for sharing tweets critical of the operations on suspicion of propaganda for the Kurdish groups PKK and PYD, which are considered as terrorist organizations by Turkish authorities. Police harshly intervened during a protest against the operations held in Diyarbakır province in front of the local branch of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) on 21 January.
