04/12/2016: AZERBAIJAN – SEEMO CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF SENTENCED JOURNALIST

Vienna, 04/12/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) called for the immediate release of Ikram Rahimov, editor-in-chief of online news outlet realliq.info, after he was sentenced to one year in prison.

Rahimov was sentenced by Sumgayit City Court on 25 November, under the Article 147.2 of the Azerbaijan Criminal Code, and directly after the court decision imprisoned. Article 147.2 of the criminal law refers to libel involving the accusation against an individual for a “serious or especially serious offence”. The sentence follows an investigation into libel launched against the editor, after he published an article on bribery committed by local authorities. The piece was based on information Rahimov received from Rahman Novruzov, who was also sentenced to a one year prison term.

Allegedly, Rahimov stated that he was tortured by local police members for three days after refusing to apologize to city authorities once the article was published.

“In Azerbaijan, it seems that journalists have become easy targets for authorities, and that not only their freedom of speech is violated, but also their human rights” said Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General.

Vienna, 30/11/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was dismayed by the number and scope of media freedom violations in Turkey in the previous several days.

On 27 November, authorities in Turkey court ordered the shutdown of yet another online media outlet, making the total number of blocked pages over 115 thousand as of today.

The Azerbaijani news agency Kurultay was blocked, and the press card of the editor-in-chief Aydin Tas was revoked. According to Tas, he also works for the opposition paper Azadliq in Azerbaijan, and his press card was revoked after an aide of President Ilham Aliyev recently visited Turkey.

No news has yet appeared about the disappearance of Mujgan Ekin, former presenter for the pro-Kurdish outlet Ozgur Gun TV. Ekin disappeared after being approached by individuals who presented themselves as police officers, while she was attending a press conference on 24 October. According to eye witnesses, Ekin was dragged into a car, while the alleged police officers told her family the presenter was being detained because of suspicions that she was a suicide bomber.

Today, 30 November, editor-in-chief of online website Sozcu 18, Vedat Beki, was taken into custody in the town of Marmaris. Allegedly, he was arrested as part of the investigation in the failed coup attempt in July in Turkey.

“Devastating news coming from Turkey, as they have so many times this year” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General stated this afternoon. “We call on authorities in the country to immediately release all media workers that are detained in relation to any investigations based on the coup aftermath, terrorist activities, or other baseless accusations the government continually uses against journalists” Vujovic added.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.

Vienna, 27/11/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) has called out to authorities in Turkey to immediately release Hatice Kamer, a journalist who was jailed on Saturday, 26 November in the Siirt region.

Kamer, who works for BBC’s Turkish language service was trying to interview family members of miners who suffered in a mine collapse on 17 November, which killed ten people. She was detained without explanation or further comments from authorities.

“The journalists’ arrests in Turkey are unacceptable” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said today. “We call on authorities to release those imprisoned on false or inadequate allegations. Turkish media workers are in dire need of actual help” Vujovic added.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.

Vienna, 21/11/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was appalled to learn that blogger and journalist Slobodan Vaskovic fled Bosnia and Herzegovina after repeatedly receiving death threats.

Vaskovic is at an undisclosed location and has stated that he left the country for reasons of his own security. The blogger frequently came into conflict with political figures, most prominent of which is the president of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik. He published several of the threats received from who he claims are members of Dodik’s political party, Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) on his blog page.

SEEMO expressed deepest concerns for the well-being of Vaskovic, as well his safety in the future. They also call on Milorad Dodik and members of his party to officially come out and state that the freedom and safety of those critical towards the establishment are guaranteed.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.

Vienna, 20/11/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed deep concern for the state of media freedom in Azerbaijan, in light of the 5th anniversary of the death of journalist and writer Rafiq Tagi.

After a stabbing incident in 2011, the journalist died days later without any culprits or results from the investigation being found to this day.

SEEMO would also like to remind about the case of Elmar Sabir oglu Huseynov, a journalist killed 2005, widely known for his harsh criticism of Azerbaijani authorities.

SEEMO also reminds the international community of dangerous amendments submitted recently by the Prosecutor General, which could change the Criminal Code. If adopted, these amendments would prolong the liability period for “discrediting the honour and dignity of the President”, as well as expand criminal provisions for slander and insult.

“We express our deepest empathy and support for our colleagues in Azerbaijan” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General stated. “Unsolved death cases of Rafiq Tagi and Elmar Huseynov are the top of the iceberg. Unfortunately, below are hidden numerous tools for oppression against journalists, including intimidation, censorship, threats and attacks” Vujovic added.

Vienna, 20/11/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemned the recent threats against journalist Sajma Redzepefendic from Novi Pazar, Serbia, and the lack of court penalties against a local politician who attacked journalist Aleksandar Cupic.

Redzepefendic became a target of anonymous threats in the past several days, after a local media outlet shared her Facebook post about the treatment of single mothers by employees in the Islam community in Serbia. After voicing her criticism, the journalist was threatened, along with her family and ten month old child.

On 5 May, Aleksandar Cupic was on site filming with his colleagues near Vrsac, Serbia, when local businessman ran into Cupic with his vehicle. Just a month earlier, Cupic wrote several articles regarding this businessman. After the businessman admitted to having attacked Aleksandar Cupic, charges against him were dropped.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.

Vienna, 17/11/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemned the slew of recent court orders in Turkey which caused several media websites and Twitter accounts to be shut down.

On 16 November, the house of Saban Iba, a columnist for Ozgur Gundem, and artist Nihat Sonmez in Balikesir’s Edremit district was raided by officers. Iba was accused of allegedly “having membership in a terrorist organization”, detained and taken to the District Gendarme Command.

On 17 November, Ismail Coban the managing editor of Kurdish daily Azadiya Welat was sentenced to two years and four months in prison for “disseminating propaganda on behalf of a terrorist organization”.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.

Vienna, 01/11/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed distress after news that Sasa Lekovic, president of the Croatian Journalists’ Association, had an incident which could have had lethal consequences.

On Thursday, 27 October Lekovic was driving from Croatia to Serbia and had to pull over after his car stopped working properly. The car service staff soon discovered that someone had tampered with one of his wheels, which then fell off. The wheel studs had been intentionally removed, possibly in order to cause Lekovic to have a crash while driving. The incident was reported to the police.

“SEEMO is asking for an urgent police investigation. We ask Serbian and Croatian authorities to give in public all details connected to this case” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said today.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.

Vienna, 31/10/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemned the behavior of authorities in Crimea towards media freedom and human rights, after journalist Mykola Semena was denied access to mainland Ukraine, where he intended to go in order to undergo necessary medical treatments.

Semena was accused earlier this year of using his work in the media as propaganda to call for “violations of the territorial integrity of Russia”. The journalist is said to have additional health issues that could lead to disability, if the travel ban imposed on him is not lifted so that he can receive treatment. Another recent case is the temporary detention of Oleksiy Nazimov, editor-in-chief of daily Tvoya gazeta, who is facing criminal charges. Allegedly, after the newspaper started looking into supposed illegal activities of the Crimean authorities, Nazimov was detained.

“Intimidation, censorship and incarceration of journalists are strong signals that tell us what a problematic media atmosphere we currently have in Ukraine and Crimea. We call on authorities to release detained journalists, and allow others to travel freely in accordance to their personal and health requirements. These cases reminded us that we must observe closely what happens in this region, and try to help media workers in any way we can” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General said today.

Vienna, 31/10/2016

The Secretary General of the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), Oliver Vujovic, condemned the today arrest of at least 13 journalists of Turkish independent daily Cumhuriyet, including the editor-in-chief Murat Sabuncu, and three of its columnists, Kadri Gürsel , Güray Öz and Aydın Engin .

“I know Kadri, who is also Board Member of the International Press Institute (IPI) and IPI Turkey National Committee Chair, very good personally, and he is a great journalist and intellectual. He participated in several SEEMO conferences in Istanbul in the past and he is an example of professional journalism. What will be the next step by the authorities in Turkey against press freedom?”, SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic asked. “It is clear that the Turkish regime sees the state of emergency as a opportunity to consolidate its power and weaken democracy in the country. The authorities should urgently restore press freedom in the country”, Vujovic added.

As the International Press Institute informed, Kadri Gürsel was taken into custody today afternoon following a raid on his home and is currently being held at Vatan police station in Istanbul.