International Press Institute (IPI) organized a press meeting in Istanbul on the last day of the high-rank visit organized in Turkey. IPI Executive Board Chairman Markus Spillman, IPI member and former BBC Scotland Editor-In-Chief Sandy Bremner, IPI Director Barbara Trionfi, IPI Turkey Defense Coordinator Caroline Stockford, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Representative Sanna Pekkınenve and IPI Turkey representative, journalist Kadri Gürsel attended the meeting, handling primary conflicts and worries for the future and pressure against the media in Turkey.
The statement indicated many journalists are arrested pending prosecution with files that lack evidence and that 95 percent of those outside of prisons are fighting to perform their profession in a pro-government environment of media. IPI indicated that criminal charges against journalists are violations of international standards of law s well as a misuse of the anti-terror law in the country. The board further indicated that Turkish government authorities guaranteed a respect for freedom of speech in Turkey as well as the supremacy of law and basic human rights; whereas that would only be meaningful when journalists are no longer arrested.
10.12.2018
bianet.org