Journalism was attempted to be prevented with detainments, attacks and threat in 2018 as well; media blackouts were brought and fines were issued. According to the BIA Media Monitoring Report 2018, 123 journalists entered the year 2019 in Turkish prisons. Of those 123, 47 are convicted, 34 are still in the process of prosecution and the files of 30 are still in the stage of investigation.
20 journalists, who were on trial in accordance with Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code, were sentenced to a total of 38 years, 5 months and four days of imprisonment (with 6 years, 10 months and twelve days deferred) as well as 35 thousand TL judicial fine. At least 21 journalists were sentenced to a total of 67 years, 7 months and four days of imprisonment (with 6 months and seven days deferred) due to “making illegal organization propaganda” or “including illegal organization statements” in their coverage.
Five journalists were sentenced to heavy life imprisonment due to “coup attempt,” 59 were sentenced to a total of 419 years and eight months of imprisonment due to “illegal organization membership, illegal organization management or aiding an illegal organization,” seven were sentenced to 7 years, two months and seven days of imprisonment (with 2 years, 2 months and seven days deferred) due to “denigrating governmental institutions”; four were sentenced to a total of 3 years, two months and fifteen days of imprisonment (with 2 years and 2 months deferred) due to “incitement to resentment and hostility”; one was sentenced to 10 months of deferred imprisonment due to “violation of privacy” and one was sentenced to five months of imprisonment due to “incitement to commit crimes.”
On the other hand, seven journalists were sentenced to a total of 4 years, 9 months and 17 days of imprisonment (with 2 years, 8 months and fifteen days deferred) due to “insult” in accordance with the Turkish Penal Code; one comic artist and one media institution were sentenced to pay a total of 18 thousand TL compensation.
The ban on the world’s most popular Internet encyclopedia Wikipedia continues; at least 2950 news content, 77 tweets, 22 Facebook posts, 5 Facebook videos, 10 websites were banned to access and three media blackouts were issued within the one-year period. Eight newspapers, 2 TV channels, 2 letters, one report, 1 TV series and one interview were censored.
You may find the full report on http://bianet.org/bianet/bia-medya-gozlem/205589-bia-medya-gozlem-2018-habercinin-medyanin-bir-yili.
19.02.2019
bianet.org