Demand press freedom for Turkey
- by: Michael Taylor
- recipient: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
“The world's biggest prison for journalists.” This is how Turkey is described by pressure group Reporters Without Borders.
The arrests of reporters, TV directors and columnists have made this a more than accurate description, but it doesn’t come close to describing the danger that journalists now face in Turkey.
Freedom of the press, one of the fundamental principles of a flourishing democracy. Leaders are no longer dictators who can insulate themselves from criticism and act with impunity for their own selfish reasons. Not so, however, if you happen to be Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey. “Insulting” Erdoğan is illegal, and with a president behaving more and more like a dictator, uttering, printing or broadcasting any sort of criticism can mean certain intimidation and arrest. This is very unbecoming of a nation looking to join the European Union.
As reported by NGOs like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Turkey has become a worse place for journalists in recent years. Even a mildly critical twitter comment can have you “disappeared”. That's right, 140 characters can land you in prison.
As we speak, Bülent Keneş, editor-in-chief of Turkey’s leading English-language newspaper Today’s Zaman lies in prison for a twitter post that did not even mention Erdoğan.
The prosecution, arrest, attack and obstruction of independent or opposition voices in Turkey needs to stop now. The European Union must act, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan must release Bülent Keneş and every other journalist arrested for nothing else than having a voice.
Many of us are fortunate to live in a country where the press is free, and we can voice our opinions on Facebook and Twitter. We can not take these freedoms for granted and must stand up for those who do not have this freedom.
Demand that the citizens of Turkey have access to a free press and access to information without discrimination. Demand that Erdoğan releases all journalists falsely arrested for terrorism and other made up convictions.
As someone who believes that fredom of speech and of the press is a fundamental right, I strong urge you to release Bülent Keneş and all journalists arrested for falsely for terrorism and other charges.
[Your comments]
Sincerely,
[Your name]
The President of Turkey has said democracy and freedom have “absolutely no value” in the country after calling for journalists, lawyers and politicians to be prosecuted as terrorists.
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