IPS Communication Foundation – Bianet

BIANET laments the poor state of press freedom in the country and says that recent judicial reforms that label some press crimes as “terrorism” will make the situation worse.

Member of Parliament Serafettin Halis says that every time he made a speech to his constituents, the authorities began another investigation against him.

The attack is reportedly related to a press release in which the association condemned an attack on Kurdish politician Ahmet Turk during Newroz celebrations in Batman.

In addition to the month-long ban on Ozgur Gundem, the Gun Printing Company was raided by the police and two issues of the newspaper were confiscated.

Ahmet Sik is facing an investigation after he criticised the judges and police officers who handled his case.

This is the second time that “Zaman” newspaper’s offices have been targeted, and editorial staff suspects it was more than ordinary vandalism.

Oda TV defendant Dogan Yurdakul, who shared a cell with Nedim Sener and Ahmet Sik in the Silivri Prison, is suffering from heart disease and kidney failure.

In 2011, journalism and rights organisations in Turkey and worldwide urged for the release of imprisoned journalists, called for the abrogation of the Anti-Terror Law, observed trial hearings and requested amendments to lengthy detention periods, says a new BIANET report.