August 08, 2006 The Contemporary Journalist Organization (CGD) has condemned the closure of Kurdish media in Turkey. In a press release by the organization, the president of Ankara branch, Yüksel Işık, criticized the Turkish government’s decision to shut down the national daily Özgür Gündem and exposed the Anti Terror Law that allows the closure of […]
August 08, 2006
The Contemporary Journalist Organization (CGD) has condemned the closure of Kurdish media in Turkey.
In a press release by the organization, the president of Ankara branch, Yüksel Işık, criticized the Turkish government’s decision to shut down the national daily Özgür Gündem and exposed the Anti Terror Law that allows the closure of papers by the prosecutor. Işık said, “We had warned in our previous announcements that the Anti Terror Law in practice would allow the press and the speech rights only with “His Majesty’s” permission. From now on the journalists will write only what “His Majesty” wants or they will face prosecution under the Anti Terror Law’s and will end up in prison.
Not long after our warning, unfortunately, Özgür Gündem has been shut down for 15 days under the Anti Terror Law.
“This closure is a limitation against the right of people to receive news. This is a blow against the freedom of press, speech and thought. Just because we don’t like what Özgür Gündem writes, should not necessitate the paper to be prosecuted under the Anti Terror Law and be shut down. The 15 day closure is not only an attack against freedoms, but is also putting the paper under tremendous economical pressure. If no reaction is shown against this closure to Özgür Gündem, in the future, any innocent criticism against the government will have the same fate. Everyone should do their part in repealing these items in the Anti Terror Law.”
