A press conference was held in the European Parliament on Eutelsat’s decision to suspend the broadcast of three Kurdish TV channels. Gülistan İke from Stêrk TV and Ferda Çetin and Füsun Erdoğan from News Channel attended the press conference hosted by French parliamentarian Marie-Christine Vergiat.

Representatives of the two TV channels and European parliamentarian Vergiat criticized Eutelsat’s collaboration with Turkey.

VERGIAT: EUTELSAT HAS ECONOMIC INTERESTS WITH TURKEY

Marie-Christine Vergiat stated that she herself is French and Eutelsat’s decision concerns her directly. Vergiat recalled that Eutelsat attempted to shur down Newroz TV and Med Nuçe last year, and was convincted in court in this case. She emphasized that Eutelsat is taking advantage of a legal loophole in Europe, and said “Eutelsat has huge economic interests with Turkey. These interests get ahead of certain basic and universal values.”

Vergiat drew attention to the pressures in Turkey and remarked that the freedom of the pres has never been good in Turkey but has gotten worse since the July 15 coup attempt.

İKE: AN ATTEMPT TO SILENCE THE KURDISH PEOPLE

Stêrk TV program coordinator Gülistan İke touched upon the pressures on the freedom of speech and the press in Turkey, and stated that the Eutelsat once again wants to stop the broadcast of Kurdish TV channels at the Turkish state’s request. İke emphasized the decision Eutelsat took on April 14 and described it as an attempt to silence the Kurdish people.

ÇETİN: EUROPEAN COUNCIL AND PARLIAMENT SHOULD PRESSURE EUTELSAT

News Channel Coordinator Ferda Çetin shared information on the licences of the three Kurdish TV channels and said that the host countries of these licenses, Italy, Sweden and Norway, have no complaints about the channels. Çetin emphasized that Eutelsat wants to stop the broadcast of these channels because of its deep commercial relationship with Turkey and despite the lack of a court decision.

He continued: “We demand that the Council of Europe, European Parliament and the media organizations in France pressure Eutelsat and make an effort so that the broadcast of Kurdish TV channels are not suspended.”

ERDOĞAN: SCANDALOUS AND SHAMEFUL

Füsun Erdoğan from News Channel told about the pressures against the media in Turkey and said “Edoğan and the AKP killed the media in Turkey in the fall of 2016. They shut media outlets down and seized their properties.”

Erdoğan stated that Turkey now intervenes in affairs beyond its borders and described the decision to suspend the broadcast of Newroz TV and Med Nuçe as ‘scandalous and shameful’ for France that defends justice and freedom of the press.

Lastly, Erdoğan called upon journalists and the European parliament and said “I believe that all institutions and individuals that defend the freedom of the press, freedom of thought and human rights should hear our voice and stand with us.”