July 24, 2024
On Press Freedom Day, July 24, media professional organizations highlighted the targeting of journalists, particularly in the context of a list presented by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) in the Sinan Ateş case, which includes 63 journalists.
The anniversary of July 24, 1908, when Istanbul newspapers refused to admit censors following the declaration of the Second Constitutional Era, is celebrated in Turkey as “Press Freedom Day.”
In the Sinan Ateş murder trial, the MHP, seeking to participate as an aggrieved party, submitted a petition listing 154 individuals, including 63 journalists, to be summoned by the court. Journalist Barış Terkoğlu revealed the inclusion of these journalists in his column. MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, on July 23, stated, "We have the file, and when the time comes, action will be taken."
In response, press professional organizations issued statements on Press Freedom Day, addressing the list that targets journalists.
TGS: Solidarity is key to overcoming today's censors
The Turkish Journalists' Union (TGS) emphasized the increasing severity of attacks on journalists in its statement: "The impunity for attacks on journalists raises the bar for such assaults daily. Threats and targeting have reached alarming levels. The 116-year struggle of journalists for the public's right to information and the public good continues today. Let's not forget that we can only remove today's censors from the media through solidarity."
TGC: Journalists are not the perpetrators of crimes
The Turkish Journalists' Association (TGC) also condemned the targeting of journalists, stating: "No one has succeeded in achieving their goals by threatening, targeting, injuring, or killing journalists. The truth cannot be hidden. Journalists are not the perpetrators of crimes. We want the public to know that we will hold those who target our colleagues and those involved in these incidents accountable for any adverse outcomes. We call on both the government and the opposition to protect freedom of the press and expression with common sense."
These statements underline the ongoing struggle for press freedom in Turkey and the increasing concerns over the safety and targeting of journalists in the country.
