Press organizations in Turkey have announced plans to hold simultaneous protests and public statements in cities across the country on Saturday, Oct. 24, marking the first anniversary of the appointment of a trustee to broadcaster TELE 1. The organizations called for an end to pressure on journalists and censorship under the slogan "No to censorship, freedom for news reporting."
MLSA — Press organizations in Turkey have called for coordinated action against the detention and arrest of journalists, house arrest orders, the appointment of trustees to media outlets and restrictions on access to social media accounts. The organizations announced plans to hold simultaneous demonstrations and mass press statements across the country on Saturday, Oct. 24, one year after a trustee was appointed to Turkish television broadcaster TELE 1.
In a joint statement, the organizations emphasized that press freedom is a right belonging not only to journalists but to society as a whole. They condemned the detention, arrest and placement of journalists under house arrest for their news reports, questions and the facts they uncover, stressing that journalism is not a crime.
The organizations also called for collective resistance against the silencing of television channels and news websites, the appointment of trustees to media outlets and restrictions on social media accounts belonging to journalists and citizens who share news reports.
They invited political parties, labor unions, bar associations, human rights groups, civil society organizations, professional associations and members of the public to participate in the demonstrations.
The protests will take place in several cities, including Ankara, Turkey's capital; Istanbul, the country's largest city; Izmir, Eskisehir, Antalya, Adana, Kocaeli, Van and Diyarbakir. Participants will deliver the message: "The press is free and cannot be censored."
The full statement issued by the press organizations reads:
No to censorship! Freedom for news reporting!
"We, the press organizations representing journalists who pursue the truth and defend the public's right to information, declare: Enough is enough! We cannot breathe!
"We will not remain silent in a system where journalism is treated as a crime, news reporting as a threat and the truth as something dangerous, and where censorship targets not only journalists but anyone who dares to dissent.
"Press freedom is a fundamental right belonging not only to journalists but to society as a whole. We are raising our voices against the suppression of the truth, obstruction of the public's right to information and censorship imposed on all segments of society.
"We refuse to accept journalists being detained for the news reports they write, the questions they ask and the facts they uncover; being arrested despite posing no risk of flight or evidence tampering; or being placed under house arrest with electronic ankle monitors.
"Journalism is not a crime. Reporting the news, asking questions, criticizing those in power and holding authorities accountable on behalf of the public are rights protected by the Constitution.
"We will not stand by as television channels and news websites are silenced one by one, trustees are appointed to media organizations, and access is blocked to the social media accounts of journalists, experts who inform the public and citizens who share our news reports.
"We invite everyone whose voices we have amplified in the past and who now face similar pressures — political parties, labor unions, bar associations, human rights and civil society organizations, all professional associations and, most importantly, citizens who defend their right to information — to join this collective protest on Saturday, Oct. 24, marking the first anniversary of the appointment of a trustee to TELE 1.
"Through simultaneous demonstrations and mass press statements in numerous provinces, including Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Eskisehir, Antalya, Adana, Kocaeli, Van and Diyarbakir, we will declare: 'The press is free and cannot be censored.'
"If we remain silent, the truth will remain hidden in darkness. If we cannot write, the public cannot know. If we cannot ask questions, those in power will not be held accountable.
"NO TO CENSORSHIP! FREEDOM FOR NEWS REPORTING!
"JOURNALISM IS NOT A CRIME!
"THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO INFORMATION CANNOT BE DENIED!"
PRESS ORGANIZATIONS
