Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli targeted people who have allegedly “defamed, accused and imputed” his party with a full-page advertisement published on daily newspapers. Bahçeli published a list of names consisting of journalists, writers, research company executives and academics who have criticized him or his party during the electoral process and wrote, “If people like you haven’t existed, how the truth, dignity, integrity, morality and humanity would be evident and easily distinguishable… We will never forget what these people have done, written, destroyed with their comments.”
Publishing a declaration on the matter, Turkish Journalists Association stated that it is impossible to talk about democracy in Turkey in case political party representatives lists to target journalists and writers who write news and commentaries they don’t like.
Turkish Journalists Union indicated that Bahçeli has a right to respond against the criticisms, stating, “… whereas, it is out of line to accuse our colleagues with conducting a ‘defamation campaign..’ We are not afraid of those who target journalists by publishing name lists.”
Reporters Without Borders Turkey representative Erol Önderoğlu wrote on Twitter: “It is extremely dangerous that Bahçeli targets journalists and writers. We demand this inappropriate attitude to stop.”
26.06.2018
bianet.org