The Journalists’ Association of Turkey (TGC) and the Contemporary Journalists Association (ÇGD) reacted strongly to RTÜK’s 10-day blackout fines against Halk TV and Sözcü TV. TGC emphasized that the decisions are a heavy blow to freedom of expression and freedom of the press under the guarantee of the Constitution and stated that the public’s right to information has been suspended.
In its statement, TGC said that the fines were unlawful and arbitrary, that public power had turned into a censorship mechanism, and that the government aimed to silence the media that reported on its activities that were not in the public interest. RTÜK’s attempts to prevent critical broadcasting were evaluated as part of a plan to silence the entire society.
In a social media statement, ÇGD described the fines as “part of the government’s plan to silence the press completely.” Reminding that Halk TV’s license will be revoked if it is fined for the third time on the same charge, ÇGD stated that this process is a clear attack on the public’s right to information.
TGC and ÇGD called on the government to respect the Constitution and freedom of expression and RTÜK to be impartial. “Journalism is not a crime” was emphasized in the statements.
July 5, 2025
Evrensel