AZİZ ORUÇ
Media freedom and press organizations have condemned the recent threats made by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli against journalists during his party's weekly group meeting on October 1. Bahçeli targeted four journalists from Halk TV over their coverage of the murder of Sinan Ateş, a former leader of the MHP-linked Grey Wolves. In a joint statement issued on October 2, 13 civil society and press organizations declared that threats against journalists for their professional activities are unacceptable and vowed to closely monitor the situation.
The statement emphasized the importance of press freedom, stating, "We will stand against these threats and closely follow the process. Journalists must not be threatened for their work."
Representatives from several press organizations spoke to the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) about the issue. Among them were Turgut Dedeoğlu, head of the Press Workers' Union (DİSK Basın-İş); Selman Çiçek, co-chair of the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG); and Banu Tuna, chair of the Turkish Journalists’ Union (TGS).
Dedeoğlu: Journalists face threats from politicians and hitmen
Turgut Dedeoğlu criticized the increasing normalization of threats against press freedom in Turkey, particularly by political actors. “Journalists in Turkey are facing increasing pressure, censorship, arrests, and insecure working conditions, all while also being threatened by politicians and convicted criminals,” he said. Dedeoğlu noted that the threats posed a serious danger to the public’s right to access information, stressing, "These threats are not only aimed at journalists but at every citizen's right to free access to information."
He also reflected on the MHP’s longstanding political practices, stating, "We are well aware of the methods and political tradition of the MHP. Such rhetoric often aims to create a media environment that reflects specific cultural and political values while suppressing diverse voices and critical thought." He warned that silencing the media's capacity for criticism weakens accountability and harms democratic processes.
Dedeoğlu called for solidarity among journalists and professional organizations to continue the fight for press freedom, saying, "Journalism is the power to ask questions and uncover the truth, and we will continue to do so with the support of our organizations and solidarity."
Çiçek: We do not view these threats as trivial
Selman Çiçek stressed the severity of the situation, recalling past political threats that were followed by violence. "The source of this threat is a party leader known for involvement in numerous dark events in the past. We have seen political assassinations after such threats, and with the rise of criminal gangs in the country, it has become easier for such violence to occur," Çiçek said, referring to previous assassinations linked to political figures.
He also noted the longstanding threats faced by Kurdish journalists, stating, "As Kurdish journalists, we have faced these threats for years, but we have not always received the solidarity we needed." He expressed hope that the current situation would lead to stronger unity among journalists and media organizations.
Strengthening solidarity is crucial
Çiçek emphasized the importance of standing together to counter the threats and pressures facing journalists in Turkey. "We regularly report on the violations of journalists’ rights in this country, and the situation is alarming. The culture of impunity creates serious pressure, but the way forward is to strengthen solidarity. The more we stand together, the more we can overcome such threats and pressures," he concluded.
Signatory organizations
The joint statement was signed by 13 organizations, including the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), Haber-Sen, the Contemporary Journalists Association (ÇGD), the Press Council, the Journalists’ Association, the Izmir Journalists’ Association, the Turkish Journalists’ Union (TGS), the Press Workers' Union (DİSK Basın-İş), the Economic Journalists Association, the International Press Institute (IPI), ARTICLE19, the Diplomacy Reporters Association (DMD), and the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association.
