Independent Communication Network (BIA) launched its July-August 2020 Media Monitoring Report. According to the report, prosecutions of at least 81 journalists continued in 53 lawsuits due to 21 different charges, especially due to “making illegal organisation propaganda” and “illegal organization membership” within the three months. Five journalists were sentenced to 21 years and three months of imprisonment due to “revealing confidential information and documents on the activity of intelligence.” One journalist was sentenced to 2 years and nine months of imprisonment due to “making illegal organisation propaganda.” Five journalists were acquitted. The three-month report revealed that 81 journalists faced 7 life imprisonment and a total of 760 years and three months of imprisonment; and eight journalists faced a total of 1 million 410 thousand TL compensation claims in accordance with legal regulations like the Turkish Criminal Code and the Anti-Terror Law.
Eight journalists have faced a claim of imprisonment for a total of 37 years and four months with the allegation of “insulting the President” through the expression of their opinions on President Erdoğan in the July-August-September 2020 period. A new indictment was prepared for journalist Fatih Portakal and new lawsuits were filed against Can Ataklı and Mustafa Sönmez. A complaint was filed at the Prosecutor’s Office against Die Welt Daily Turkey reporter Deniz Yücel with the same charge previously imposed against him; an investigation was opened against Gerger Fırat Daily owner Hacı Boğatekin in Adıyaman.
The report shows that Turkey has become a country in which “journalists are now detained due to criticising the authority, media blackouts are issued against TV channels for five days with the same reason, assets of exiled journalists are attempted to be confiscated in order to bring them back to the country, violence against journalists, especially local journalists increase and the more it increases, the more it stays within impunity.” Please click here for details.
13.10.2020
bianet.org