(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: **Updates IFEX alerts of 22 and 21 October 1999** Paris, 3 November 1999 For immediate release WAN Calls for Investigation in Turkish Murder The World Association of Newspapers has asked Turkish Prime Minister Sayin Ecevit to investigate the “appalling” murder of journalist and academic Ahmet Taner […]
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release:
**Updates IFEX alerts of 22 and 21 October 1999**
Paris, 3 November 1999
For immediate release
WAN Calls for Investigation in Turkish Murder
The World Association of Newspapers has asked Turkish Prime Minister Sayin
Ecevit to investigate the “appalling” murder of journalist and academic
Ahmet Taner Kislali, who was killed by a car bomb in suburban Ankara late
last month.
“While the identity of the perpetrators is unclear, we are concerned at
reports that the Great Eastern Islamic Raiders’ Front, an extremist group,
claimed responsibility for the assassination of Mr Kislali, a staunch
secularist,” the Paris-based WAN said in a letter to the Prime Minister.
“We strongly urge you to ensure that this appalling crime is thoroughly
investigated and that those responsible are swiftly brought to justice,”
said the letter, signed by WAN President Bengt Braun.
Mr. Kislali, a regular columnist for the daily Cumhuriyet and political
science lecturer at Ankara University, was killed in a bomb attack on 21
October in front of his home.
According to reports, the bomb was wrapped in newspaper and placed on the
windscreen of Mr. Kislali’s car. It exploded when he attempted to remove the
package.
WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and
promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 17,000 newspapers; its
membership includes 61 national newspaper associations, individual
newspaper executives in 93 countries, 17 news agencies and seven regional
and world-wide press groups.
