The government and the higher judiciary seem to be allies, as far as the undermining of press freedom and freedom of expression are concerned, says the report.
(BIANET/IFEX) – 9 May 2010 – The Media Monitoring Report of the Independent Communication Network (BİA) for the first quarter of 2010 was presented by BIANET editor Erol Önderoğlu in a press conference on 2 May 2010. “The attempts to restrict free discussions related to conflicts between officials within state institutions were the reason for an increase of cases against journalists and other people who voiced their thoughts. As far as legal regulations are concerned, threats of imprisonment were prevalent”, Önderoğlu indicated.
3 May was not and will not be a day of press freedom in Turkey as long as the judiciary takes ideological decisions that oppose the European Convention of Human Rights and those who address “red lines” (taboo topics) are subject to attacks.
Whereas the government of the Justice and Development Party and the higher judiciary cannot agree on issues like constitutional reform, the judiciary and the Kurdish initiative, they seem to be allies as far as the undermining of press freedom and freedom of expression are concerned.
The Media Monitoring Report for January, February and March 2010 issued by the BİA Media Monitoring Desk reveals that a total of 216 people, among them 69 journalists as well as authors, publishers, caricaturists, politicians and other citizens, stand trial in cases related to freedom of thought and freedom of expression. During the first quarter of the previous year a total of 110 people were tried in this context, 60 of them journalists.
