GYV urges government to accelerate reforms in favor of media freedoms

(Photo: Today's Zaman)
(Photo: Today's Zaman)


Date posted: April 17, 2013

The Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) has called on the Turkish government to speed up pro-freedom reforms and to bring its laws in line with European Union standards in order to do away with problems caused by limits on freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
The foundation released a statement on Wednesday regarding recent debates in Turkey concerning freedom of the press, expressing its concerns and recommendations on the issue.

The statement read, “The fact that Turkey’s democratization efforts are overshadowed by developments that are incompatible with freedom of the press damages Turkey’s image in the international arena.”

“Removing limits on freedom of the press and freedom of expression and problems caused by these limits in Turkey depends on speeding up pro-freedom reforms and bringing Turkey’s legislation in line with European Union norms. In this regard, in particular the Press Law, the Counterterrorism Law [TMK] and the Turkish Penal Code [TCK] should be made compatible with international laws and the European Convention on Human Rights [ECHR],” the GYV said.

Stating that freedom of the press and freedom of expression are indispensable rights in democratic societies, the statement recalled that these principles are also among the fundamental aspects of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ECHR, to which Turkey is a party. “It is a requirement in a democracy that expressing marginal thoughts should also be possible within international norms unless they contain violence, hatred or insults,” the statement said.

The GYV’s statement also voiced disapproval of any pressure on the media. “All kinds of practices like political pressure, business relations and self-censorship which limit freedom of the press are against democracy and are unacceptable. The commercial affairs and governmental ties of media owners should not limit freedom of the press,” the GYV said.

The statement underlined that political actors putting pressure on the media and media owners acting in line with this pressure and prioritizing their business interests both constitute interventions into the freedom of the press. “Journalists should adopt a stance defending the dignity and principles of the profession,” the statement said, adding that full implementation of freedom of the press is linked to a pro-democracy stance from both politicians and the media.

On the other hand, the statement also stressed that freedom of expression should not create a space for actions that aim to eradicate democracy in the country, noting that press freedom would never grant journalists immunity from laws. “Yet, this limitation should be put into practice with such attentiveness that journalists acting in line with freedom of expression and principles of the profession should not be victimized,” the statement added.

The statement has found extensive support among media members. Veteran journalist Hasan Cemal, who was fired from the Milliyet daily in March when one of his articles was not published by the newspaper, endorsed the GYV statement. Cemal’s rejected article was on the relationship between the media and government and included criticism of this relationship.

Prior to that, a controversy took place between Hasan Cemal and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan when Milliyet published the secret minutes of a meeting between terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan and Kurdish deputies in the beginning of March.

In response to efforts to link Cemal being fired and Erdoğan’s statements, the prime minister denied claims of pressure on the owner of Milliyet, the Demirören family, which has strong links to industry. “It is said that I, as the prime minister, put pressure on the Demirören family [which owns Milliyet]. … I am offended by claims that I demanded Cemal stop writing articles for the daily,” said Erdoğan.

However, he also had stated that when the Demirören family bought the dailies Milliyet and Vatan, the owner, Erdoğan Demirören, had asked him whom he would recommend as editor in chief. Erdoğan had said that he recommended Akif Beki, but he was not appointed as the newspaper and Beki were unable to reach an agreement.

Following the GYV’s statement, Cemal described the statement as “very good” on his Twitter account.

In addition to the case of Cemal, at the beginning of April Habertürk columnist and Turkey correspondent of the Economist Amberin Zaman parted ways with the Turkish daily at the request of the owner of the newspaper. Her dismissal from the newspaper was also widely discussed on the social media and considered as a blow to media freedoms in Turkey.

The GYV was founded in 1994 with the mission and work of the foundation inspired by GYV Honorary President Fethullah Gulen. Gulen, a well-respected Turkish intellectual and Islamic scholar, is known for his teachings of “hizmet” (service), tolerance and dialogue.

Since its foundation, the GYV has advocated democracy, plurality, peace and the art of living together, largely through organizing countless conferences and panels.

Click for here for the full statement of the GYV

SourceToday’s Zaman, 17 April 2013


Related News

Fethullah Gulen’s statement on World Press Freedom Day

World Press Freedom Day is an occasion that shines a light on the importance of free speech and a free press. One truly cannot be considered a human being without freedom. Protection of essential freedoms, including the freedom of thought and expression are as important as the protection of life, freedom of religion, bodily and mental health, family and property.

Hate speech and respect for the sacred

Islam seeks to protect five major principles that are specified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and adopted in the modern world: religious freedom, the right to observe religious duties and the protection of this right; the right to life and its protection; the right to mental and physical health and its protection; the right to property and its protection; the right to marriage and reproduction and its protection.

Liberal Turkish Journalists Champion Freedom of Expression, to a Degree

It’s precisely opposition journalists who have been criticized by colleagues who until recently worked for the newspapers of U.S.-based Fethullah Gulen. These colleagues accuse the opposition journalists of betraying freedom of expression. One of them is Sevgi Akarcesme who was editor-in-chief of the Turkish English-language daily Today’s Zaman. There is a great deal of truth in Akarcesme’s claims. But who today would dare defend journalists identified with Gulen?

11th Int’l Turkish Olympiads kick off in İstanbul

The 11th International Turkish Olympiads, which is a festival celebrating the Turkish language and brings together 2,000 students from 140 countries this year, began in İstanbul on Wednesday. The event began with a news conference held in Atatürk Olympic Stadium attended by the Turkish deputy parliamentary speaker and International Turkish Language Olympiads organizing committee chairman, […]

Turkish-Jordanian relations discussed in Istanbul

At a workshop on Turkish-Jordanian relations organized by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV) in İstanbul on Wednesday, top aide to the prime minister and Ankara Deputy Yalçın Akdoğan said that Turkey pursues a value-based foreign policy, not one based on national interests. Stating that Turkey approaches its region with the idea of soft power and adhering […]

Fethullah Gulen condemns the coup attempt in Turkey

I condemn, in the strongest terms, the attempted military coup in Turkey. Government should be won through a process of free and fair elections, not force.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

A Turkish coup, a family torn apart, a dramatic escape on foot: ‘Can you believe the things we went through?’

Judge says judiciary still under tutelage, implies gov’t responsible

Transparency and trust is our only weapon says Turkish NGO chairman

How will prep school controversy influence elections [in Turkey]?

Kyrgyz President Atambayev: Sebat Turkish schools won’t be shut down

The system is the root cause of corruption

ACDC Builds Clean Water Well in Benin!

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News