The European Federation of Journalists (EJF) has made a “New Year Appeal 2014” for support to the online “Turkey: Set Journalists Free” campaign in solidarity with the 60 jailed journalists in Turkish jails.

In a statement about the campaign, Mogens Blicher Bjerregård, President of the European Federation of Journalists, pointed out that the jailed journalists were put behind bars for telling the truth, adding: “In fact, their professional rights as journalists were violated. They cannot report freely without the fear of imprisonment; they were punished for telling the truth and serving the public interest”.

The EJF President called on all journalists to support the campaign to give these journalists a hopeful year to look forward to, remarking that 2014 will be a better year for journalists and press freedom in Turkey.

Ricardo Gutiérrez, EFJ General Secretary, said “For the second year in a row, Turkey has jailed more journalists than any other countries in the world. But the EFJ remains, more than ever, committed to fight against repressive media laws including the misuse of anti-terror laws, in Turkey. Journalists should not be put behind bars for doing their jobs. We will not give up until they are free because it is our duty to defend their rights.”

The petition for justice for journalists in Turkey was launched for an urgent appeal of the life sentences given to four journalists and the swift review of cases in which journalists are imprisoned because of their professional works, and to call for the decriminalisation of journalists in Turkey's justice system. It can be reached on the website https://avaaz.org/en/petition/Justice_for_Journalists_in_Turkey/