Barry Fitzpatrick, NUJ deputy general secretary, said: "Journalists are being jailed by the Turkish government on politically-motivated terrorism charges. The NUJ deplores the climate of fear engendered by a state which has detained more than 75 journalists and the alarming deterioration in media freedom. We are actively working with journalists and their unions to get justice for media workers who are just doing their job. We are supporting international efforts to call the Turkish government to account."

 

The NUJ is supporting a statement by The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), its affiliate the Journalists' Union of Turkey (Türkiye Gazeteciler Sendikası - TGS), Representatives of the International Press Institute (IPI), IPI's Turkish National Committee, and the Freedom for Journalists Platform (Gazetecilere Özgürlük Platformu – GÖP)

 

The statement includes the case of Bedri Adanir: "Representatives of the EFJ and the TGS were present at the latest hearing in the case of Kurdish journalist/publisher Bedri Adanır on September. 13 in Diyarbakir.  Adanır, owner of Aram Publishing and a writer for Kurdish daily newspaper Hawar, had been imprisoned since January 2010 on allegations that he is a member of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and has spread propaganda on the group's behalf. Adanır's alleged offences include distribution of so-called illegal books and magazines containing the views and speeches imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.  The books and magazines, however, reportedly remain widely available and may easily be purchased at bookstores. At the hearing, Adanır's lawyer was allowed to present argument in favour of his release for approximately five minutes before the court adjourned. The court returned with an approximately one-and-a-half page decision denying the request."

 

The full statement can be read here

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