The Free Journalists Initiative (OGI) pointed out that there are 152 journalists in prisons in Turkey and said: “Journalists work under duress by the government.” OGI called for the cases against journalists to be dismissed.
The Free Journalists Initiative (OGI) issued a written statement for July 24 Press Freedom Day.
The statement said the number of detained, tried and arrested journalists show that the media is not free in Turkey and censorship continues.
PRISONS, PRESSURE, EXILES
The statement said there are 152 journalists in Turkey’s prisons and continued:
“Since the beginning of 2019, 36 journalists have been detained, 13 arrested, 30 investigated and 8 sued. 314 journalists have faced trial and 42 have been sentenced. 2 journalists were deported. Turkey ranked 157th among 180 countries for press freedom. Thousands of journalists lost their jobs after the state of emergency was declared. Hundreds lost their yellow press cards. Dozens were forced to leave the country due to the pressure and prison sentences. 95% of the media is controlled by the government. These data points show that the press is not free. Journalists work under duress by the government.”
CALL TO DISMISS THE CASES
OGI said free journalists continue their work with the responsibility to inform the public as best they can, and called for journalists’ freedom and the cases against journalists to be dismissed.
