Newspaper & Mailroom
International Press Groups Condemn Journalist Arrests in Turkey
Monday 21. March 2011 - The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), together with the World Editors Forum, have condemned the arrests of dozens of journalists in Turkey as a controversial investigation into the failed 2007 Ergenekon plot to overthrow the Turkish government intensifies.
Turkish authorities claim the alleged plot called for assassinations and attacks that would have created chaos, with the ultimate aim of inciting the military to launch a coup détat. The investigation has accused hundreds of politicians, retired military officers, academics and journalists of conspiring to bring down the government.
The latest wave of arrests came after police raided the homes of 10 journalists and writers, amongst them Ahmet ??k and Nedim ?ener, prominent author and investigative reporter for Milliyet daily newspaper. They were initially accused of “inciting hatred and animosity among the public”, charges later defined as “being
member[s] of the Ergenekon organisation.”
According to reports, the latest arrests bring to 63 the number of journalists under arrest in Turkey, many of whom have been charged in connection with the Ergenekon investigation.
A series of demonstrations were held in Istanbul and Ankara over the weekend in support of the detained journalists that highlighted the deteriorating environment for freedom of the press in Turkey.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s calls for the media “to act responsibly” in their response to the recent raids was met with little sympathy amongst the demonstrators, with the Freedom for Journalists Platform – an umbrella group representing local and national media organisations in Turkey – responding with claims that the Prime Ministers ruling party bore much of the responsibility “for creating a climate of pressure and fear in the country.”
WAN-IFRA has written to Prime Minister Erdogan to express its concern at the targeting of journalists for simply doing their jobs, calling on him “to ensure that Mr ??k, Mr ?ener and all others held for exercising their right to freedom of expression are immediately released and that all charges against them are dropped.”
The full letter read:
“We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries, to express our serious concern at the intensifying crackdown on journalists in the alleged Ergenekon plot.
“According to reports, ten journalists and writers, including Ahmet ??k and Nedim ?ener, were arrested last week after police raided their homes. Three other journalists were arrested two weeks ago. All of them are accused of being involved in the alleged Ergenekon plot to overthrow the government.
“Mr ??k and Mr ?ener were formally arrested on 6 March, three days after their detention, on charges of “being a member of the Ergenekon organization”. Prosecutors had initially demanded that the pair also face charges of “inciting hatred and animosity among the public”, but the court dismissed this charge. Mr ??k and Mr ?ener were transferred to Istanbuls Metris Prison.
“Five other journalists – Do?an Yurdakul, Co?kun Musluk, Sait Çak?r, Yalç?n Küçük and Müyesser Y?ld?z – also appeared in court on 6 March with a police request that they be formally arrested in connection with the alleged plot. On the same day, three suspects who had been detained during raids last month on the critical web portal Oda TV were released.
“We are seriously concerned that 63 journalists are reportedly under arrest in Turkey, many of whom have been charged in connection with the Ergenekon investigation.
“We respectfully remind you that the jailing of Mr ??k, Mr ?ener and others for carrying out their duties as journalists and writers violates numerous international conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 19 of the Declaration states: ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers.’
“We call on you to take all necessary steps to ensure that Mr ??k, Mr ?ener and all others held for exercising their right to freedom of expression are immediately released and that all charges against them are dropped. We ask you to do everything possible to ensure that in future your country fully respects international standards of press freedom.”