In its report, “Democracy Under Risk: threats and attacks against media freedom in Europe,” the Council of Europe stated that 110 of the 130 journalists imprisoned in Europe are in Turkish prisons.
The report was prepared by the Council together with other international institutions working on press freedom. “Turkey is the biggest prison in the world for journalists,” evaluated the report. It was further pointed out that journalists in Turkey faced extraordinary pressure in 2018 and that Turkey is one of the worst countries in the world in terms of freedom of expression and media freedom.
Here are some of the identifications taking place in the report’s Turkey section;
– Most arrested journalists are charged with illegal organization membership or propaganda.
– These lawsuits reveal that the supremacy of law in Turkey has almost completely collapsed.
– Even the Constitutional Court decrees are not applied due to political pressure.
– Testimonies allegedly received under torture could be presented to the court in lawsuits against journalists.
– Long-term solitary confinement against arrested journalists violate precedents of the European Court of Human Rights.
You may find the full report on
https://rm.coe.int/annual-report-2018-democracy-in-danger-threats-and-attacks-media-freed/1680926453.
13.02.2019
bianet.org