CPJ: Turkey has fearful journalism climate

October 2, 2014 By administrator

Turkish journalists gather to protest attacks on journalists and media freedom in Ankara on May 3. (Photo: AP)

October 02, 2014, Thursday/ AP / ISTANBUL

An international media freedom watchdog said that while Turkey has released many journalists from prison recently, the government is creating a more fearful climate for critical media.

The chairman of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Sandy Rowe, and counterparts from the International Press Institute (IPI) are meeting Turkish officials on Thursday, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The CPJ has previously cited Turkey as being the world’s worst offender for imprisoning journalists. But Rowe said all but 10 journalists have been released, though some only conditionally.

Still, after discussions with journalists in Turkey, she said the government has failed to stop intimidating journalists who have published critical material.

“What we have heard from them consistently is that the overall conditions and climate of fear and intimidation that many journalists feel has increased,” she said.

She noted that journalists who come under government criticism are often threatened by its supporters on social media.

“It, of course, tracks immediately to social media and it is going way beyond name calling on criticism and it includes threats of harm — threats of real bodily harm or murder,” she said. “That’s very troubling; it shouldn’t happen and in the case of Turkey we wish the government would speak out against it.”

Rowe also criticized the government for restrictions on the Internet and social media, noting the temporary blocks on Twitter and YouTube by the government this year. Turkey’s high court later overturned the blocks, calling them unconstitutional.

CPJ and IPI were expected to issue a statement following their meetings in Ankara.

Turkish Police detain CNN correspondent, injure Italian journalist (Video)

June 1, 2014 By administrator

TODAYSZAMAN.COM / ISTANBUL

Riot police allegedly detained CNN’s İstanbul correspondent Ivan Watson and his crew and a freelance journalist from Italy was injured when he was hit by a tear gas canister.

According to reports, the events happened on Saturday during protests staged to mark the anniversary of last year’s massive anti-government Gezi protests.

“Turkish police detained me and my crew in the middle of a live report in Taksim Square. One officer kneed me in the butt,” Watson said in a tweet on Saturday. Other reports say that the CNN crew was not formally detained but was prevented from staying on the air.

In Ankara, freelance journalist and photographer Piero Castellano was hit in the chest by a tear gas canister fired by police, according to a report published on the news site sendika.org. The report said Castellano was in good condition.

Turkish Journalists’ Federation (TGF) on Sunday issued a statement harshly condemning attacks on members of the press covering the anniversary of the Gezi demonstrations. Its President Atila Sertel, referring to Watson’s detention on live television, said, “The police of this state do not recognize the press card issued by the Directorate General of Press and Information [BYEGM] of the Prime Ministry, recognized all around the world.” In CNN’s footage showing police intervention to Watson’s crew, Watson can be seen showing his yellow press card to the police, who continued to manhandle him.

Sertel said many members of the press had been prevented from doing their job by the police on Saturday. Sertel, who is also a member of the Press Cards Commission, said: “If this is going to go on, if reporters will be prevented from performing their duties, these press cards we carry don’t mean a thing. If that is the case, we are ready to return our press cards. On the other hand, if journalists fail to stand together on professional ethics and the freedom to perform their job, they should be ashamed.”

Saturday was May 31, the first anniversary of the broad anti-government protests that lasted for more than a month last year in many cities across Turkey that started as a sit-in protest against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s plan to build a shopping mall over Gezi Park in İstanbul.

Police cracked down heavily on protesters. At least 120 people were detained in İstanbul alone and over a dozen were injured on Saturday during police interventions in the demonstrations. So far, there have been reports of violence against only two members of the press.

French journalists expelled from Azerbaijan “They were 15, they threw us on the plane”

May 18, 2014 By administrator

Richard Lawrence Editor of the magazine investigation Cash on France 2

“Sunday, Emmanuel Bach (JRI) and I were part of the delegation of President Hollande during his visit to Azerbaijan. Us to investigate a number of “Cash investigation” which will be released in the fall on France 2.

Azerbaijan is a country that welcomes rarely journalists. Many are denied the right to enter. There are three weeks Elena Voloshin, a sister i> TELE, was banned from entering the territory. Us, we had all the necessary permits, including a 7 day visa. In addition, the Elysee was accredited us. Also, we could follow all movements. François Hollande was surrounded by many business leaders. All French industry was there: Total, GDF-Suez, Areva, etc..

Off camera, Holland with opponents

Azerbaijan is known, is an extremely repressive regime, poorly noted by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Amnesty International. We practice torture against journalists, against opponents, against human rights. In our survey, on economic relations between France and Azerbaijan, we also wanted to show this reality.