Turkey: Journalists are forced into self-censorship because they are afraid of imprisonment

Author: Kristina Markalaus. Photo: Facebook.

Interview with the President of the Journalist Union of Turkey

“Protecting freedom of press also means defending the public’s right of access to information. In a society where the right to information is restricted, one cannot speak of democracy. Therefore, as journalists we will do everything within our power to be the voice of those who have been marginalized, imprisoned, and silenced for doing their jobs and defending the freedom of press and freedom of access to information for all of us. As journalists from Turkey, we cry out once again: Journalism is not a crime!” – those are the words of the Turkish journalists and advocates for press freedoms gathered under the initiative “I’m a journalist” (I’m a journalist #Bengazeteciyim). Namely, the ongoing campaign in Turkey wants to express solidarity with all journalists and media workers who are in prison or face pressures from the authorities because they insist on the right to freedom of expression and informing.

For Fairpress, President of the Journalist Union of Turkey (TGS), Uğur Güç, spoke about the situation of the media in Turkey.

Repression of journalists in Turkey is becoming more and more noticeable and journalism is often seen as a crime. Do you feel pressure in your work under these kinds of circumstances?

Uğur Güç: Journalism has been under great pressure since 2007. Journalists are forced into self-censorship because they are afraid of imprisonment. Since 2010, more than 300 journalists were sent to prison and released. Journalists who insist on writing the truth are threatened with unemployment. In the media sector the unemployment rate is three times bigger than the general unemployment rate. More than seven thousand journalists are unemployed.

In your opinion, how much has the treatment of journalists and the media in Turkey changed in the last five years?

Uğur Güç: In the last five years, the AKP government has dominated the media, changing it step by step. The media “operations” of AKP started with the takeover of Sabah-ATV by SDIF (Savings Deposit Insurance Fund) which depends on the Prime Minister. SDIF then sold Sabah-ATV to the media group Çalık Holding, owned by Ahmeta Çalıka who is a close friend of Erdoğan. After that day, SDIF took over some media companies and sold them to a businessman close to the AKP. Thus, AKP ensured domination over the most powerful media companies. In 2010, the propaganda of the cases Balyoz, KCK, Ergenekon was done through those media by AKP. AKP didn’t succeed in taking over the newspaper Hürriyet, but they “deactivated” it by sending them tax penalties up to a trillion. AKP is now ruining media companies by co-opting trustees.

Reporters without Borders current place Turkey on the 151st place out of 180 countries regarding Press Freedom Index. Do you think that this represents the current situation in the right way?

Uğur Güç: According to the Freedom House report, Turkey has fallen to 156st place out of 180 countries. In 2010, more than a hundred journalists have been arrested because of the cases Balyoz, KCK, Ergenekon. 35 journalists are currently in prison and the pressures continue. There are hundreds of legal proceedings led against journalists. Most of them are faced with trials for the alleged plot of spreading propaganda of terrorist organisations or for the defamation of President Erdoğan.

Turkey is among the leading countries regarding censoring Twitter and also roughly 1000 internet sites are forbidden. How do you look upon the (lack of) internet freedoms in Turkey?

Uğur Güç: Journalists who were fired from mainstream media or who resigned and insist on making truthful news, can find a job on internet news portals. They want to continue top write the truth on the internet, but the Telecommunications Communication Presidency (TİB) can block URL addresses of 100 thousand portals without a court order. In Turkey, not only is press freedom under pressure, but so is freedom of opinion and expression in general. Thousands of people are put on trial for the alleged plot of spreading propaganda of terror organisations and for defamation of President Erdoğan on social media accounts. Despite all the barriers, there is a more free environment on the internet. Also, we can undo the bans by using programs such as VPN or TOR.

Can you tell us something more about the ongoing campaign entitled “I am a journalist”?

Uğur Güç: It brings together an increasing number of journalists with the aim of showing solidarity as a result of the growing number of bans and pressures in Turkey. Coordination groups are being formed which include professional organizations such as the Journalist Union of Turkey. We’re building solidarity; the campaign “I’m a journalist” appeared as a result of this. The campaign was started by postcards being sent to imprisoned journalists. Now, it continues under the motto “Do you know? Journalism is not a crime!”. The next steps are being planned. We will be going on protests in front of prisons and courts. We’re going into a struggle that is based on solidarity.

The interview was originally published by FairPress.eu