Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) deputy co-chair for Press and Propaganda, Tayip Temel, issued a statement to mark 10 January, Working Journalists' Day.

Temel said: “With the AKP government, the rights and freedoms of journalists, which were also under attack, were finally destroyed, and a strict oppression and attack regime was built against the press workers. Unfortunately, Turkey is at the bottom of the world's press freedom rankings. According to the data of the Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS), the rate of unemployed journalists is around 40 percent. According to the same data, 274 journalists were put on trial in 128 cases, a total of 226 years, 8 months and 25 days in prison. According to TGS data, 43 journalists, and according to Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) data, 62 journalists are still in prison for practicing their profession. DFG states that 47 journalists have been sentenced to 133 years, 8 months and 21 days in prison in the past year. Both national and international reports show the gravity of the heavy attacks on the press in Turkey.”

Temel added: “While real journalists who act in accordance with the universal principles of journalism are punished, those who carry out propaganda activities in the name of the government are protected by this system. In big cities, especially in Istanbul, “journalists” who worked together with prosecutors, prepared lists of dissidents to be arrested. These individuals who were “promoted” from reporters to informants have already taken their place in history as the disgrace of the journalism profession.”

Temel continued: “Despite everything, there are journalists who protect the honour of their profession, try to convey the truth to the society, pay the price for this, but do not step back. There are journalists who overcame the siege of the government despite all risks to present facts and the truth to the public. The existence of these journalist colleagues who are after the truth is the hope of freedom and democracy in Turkey.”