25 July 2013 / SELÇUK GÜLTAŞLI, BRUSSELS
The European Union has criticized and raised concerns about the state of media freedom in Turkey in the wake of Yavuz Baydar’s sacking from the Sabah daily.
The European Commission, in a statement to Today’s Zaman, underlined the importance of several issues regarding freedom of expression. Editorial independence, transparency of media ownership and being free from political interference were cited as the three basic pillars of media freedom.
The European Commission said it was concerned about measures taken against some journalists such as dismissals and criminal sanctions. The commission’s statement comes just after Baydar, the ombudsman of Sabah, was fired from the newspaper. Baydar, a well-known liberal columnist, was invited by the European Commission to address the Speak-Up conference at the end of June in Brussels. In his speech, Baydar had strongly criticized the Turkish government, the ownership of media by big business and some of his colleagues for confusing journalism with political activism. He also served as president of the US-based Organization of News Ombudsmen (ONO) between 2003 and 2004.
Peter Stano, the spokesman for Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle, also stressed in the statement “the significance of pluralism, tolerance and broadmindedess” in terms of press freedom.
“Freedom of expression, together with pluralism, tolerance, broadmindedness, as well as editorial independence and transparency of media ownership, free from political interference, are key elements in any democracy,” he said.
Without naming Baydar by name, Stano said: “In this regard, the Commission expresses its concern for the recent measures taken against some journalists, including dismissals and criminal sanctions.”