02/09/2016: TURKEY – SEEMO CALLS FOR RELEASE OF JOURNALIST IN TURKEY

Vienna, 02/09/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) calls for the release of Lindsey Snell, an American journalist who was detained while travelling to Turkey from Syria.

Snell, a video journalist currently residing in Istanbul, Turkey, was detained by police on 7 August after escaping a terrorist group in Syria. Snell had gone to Syria to film, and was allegedly held hostage for two weeks. According to her spouse, Snell’s apartment in Istanbul was raided by police on 22 August, and her laptop, hard disc, video camera and other materials were confiscated. Her husband was also detained for two days, under suspicion that he had tried to destroy evidence in the journalist’s apartment, and was involved in the failed coup attempt in Turkey on 15 July.

SEEMO members call on authorities in Turkey to immediately release Lindsey Snell. Incarcerating investigative journalists in conflict zones only worsens and intensifies the atmosphere of censorship and media violations in the region. Media workers must be allowed to do their job professionally and freely, without pressure or fear of censorship.

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, 30/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was appalled by recent incidents in Turkey.

On 28 August, Turkish police forces raided the premises of Azadiya Welat, a Kurdish-language daily in the city of Diyarbakir. Following the search, over 23 staff members were arrested and detained, deprived of their phones and IDs, and were held in the Diyarbakir Police headquarters. A child that was visiting the offices was also taken into custody. Reports say the justification behind the raid were alleged ‘illegal organizational meetings held at the premises’.

It was revealed that release demands for Sahin Alpay, Lale Kemal, Ali Bulac and over 40 other journalists arrested on 31 July have been rejected. Following the aftermath of the coup attempt in Turkey on 15 July, media workers were charged for allegedly being members of a terrorist organization, and were detained. The Judiciary Court in Istanbul rejected the release pleas, claiming that no new evidence has surfaced which would justify their release.

On 30 August The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK suspended Izgur Gun, a local news outlet in Turkey. Aside from having its website repeatedly blocked in the previous months, the station was fined for allegedly broadcasting terrorist propaganda on 27 August.

‘The persecution of journalists working in Turkey has reached devastating levels,’ said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. ‘SEEMO calls for the release of journalists who have been imprisoned simply for doing their jobs’.

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, 29/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was saddened and shocked by the death of Russian journalist Alexander Shchetinin, who was found in his apartment in the Podol district of Kiev.

Shchtetin was found with a bullet wound to the head during the night between 27 and 28 August. The victim, a long-time journalist, editor and founder of Noviy Region news agency, was often criticized by some of the highest political figures in both Russia and Ukraine. Authorities have launched an investigation into his murder.

SEEMO members were deeply disturbed by the news of this brutal murder, and call on authorities in Ukraine to conduct a transparent and swift investigation, and bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice as soon as possible.

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, 28/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was alarmed to learn about attacks on public broadcaster RTK and its General Director.

On 23 August, unknown perpetrators threw a hand grenade at the premises of the public broadcaster RTK. No persons were injured and no arrests were made regarding this case. On29 August, another hand grenade exploded in a suburb of Pristina, which is said to have been intended to hurt Mentor Shala, the General Director of RTK. The explosion occurred in close to Shala’s family home.

‘SEEMO calls on authorities to promptly investigate these attacks, and do everything necessary to preserve and protect media workers and their rights. An attack on someone’s life, if it is not investigated and punished, is a bad sign for conditions in Kosovo’, SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said.

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, 28/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) called on institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to immediately react to the harassment of journalist Lejla Colak.

On 26 August, Colak wrote a Facebook post expressing her personal opinion about women wearing burkas, hijabs and similar religious garments. After her statement was interpreted as offensive by a member of the BiH Armed Forces, he wrote a caption asking if ‘anyone would volunteer’ to assault the journalist, adding that he would ‘compensate’ any person for that action himself. Several other comments followed, with individuals suggesting that Colak should be ‘burned alive’ and run over by a car.

After the case became public, the member of the BIH Armed Forces deleted his Facebook post and apologized. According to sources, he will be dismissed from his position after an investigation establishes whether the threats were factual.

“SEEMO is disturbed by the harassment of journalist Lejla Colak by a member of the armed forces for freely expressing her opinion,’ said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. ‘We sincerely hope that this matter will be investigated and the responsible individual held accountable under the law’.

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, 27/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed concern after a recent broadcast ban in Turkey.

On26 August, an attack was launched by the PKK in the Sirnak district of Cizre, a town on the border of Turkey and Syria. A vehicle containing explosives detonated, killing three civilians, 11 police officers, and injuring over 70 others. Following the attack, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) announced a temporary broadcast ban for all news outlets regarding the explosion, claiming that this is a case with high risk of public disorder and posed a risk to national security.

‘Broadcast bans have become a common occurrence in Turkey after attacks’ said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. ‘In times of crisis, people rely more heavily than ever on balanced and up to date coverage of ongoing events. Receiving clear information during difficult situations is essential. We call on authorities in Turkey and especially the RTUK, to revoke the broadcast ban immediately, and to avoid using this method of censorship again’, 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, 23/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is concerned by comments that Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic made about the country’s public broadcaster RTS (Radio Television of Serbia).

During a press conference on August 22, the Prime Minister made remarks after a RTS report. The prime minister criticized the public broadcaster and some RTS editors as “political persons”. He stated a number of times that he has not appeared on RTS in the past several months because he is dissatisfied with their reporting, and that he will continue to disregard the outlet.

‘We at SEEMO find this view by the prime minister of Serbia highly problematic’, said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic.

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, 23/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is concerned by comments that Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic made about the country’s public broadcaster RTS (Radio Television of Serbia).

During a press conference on August 22, the Prime Minister made remarks after a RTS report. The prime minister criticized the public broadcaster and some RTS editors as “political persons”. He stated a number of times that he has not appeared on RTS in the past several months because he is dissatisfied with their reporting, and that he will continue to disregard the outlet.

‘We at SEEMO find this view by the prime minister of Serbia highly problematic’, said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic.

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, 23/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was alarmed by an attack targeting the public broadcaster Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) yesterday in Pristina.

On 22 August, a hand grenade was thrown into the yard of RTK, where both the main building and transmission antennas for the broadcaster are located. Several journalists were working in the building at the time of the attack, but none suffered any injuries. The perpetrators are currently not known, and an investigation is said to be underway.

‘SEEMO calls on the police and other institutions in Kosovo to react and follow up on this case with a transparent and swift investigation. Attackers behind this crime must be found and brought to justice, in order to show that authorities in Kosovo are committed to protection of journalists and their rights’, said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic.

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, 11/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) called on institutions in Turkey to cease the enormous pressure imposed against journalists and media workers.

On 5 August, DIHA News Agency reporters Selman Keles and Idris Yilmaz were taken into custody while shooting in the Yusekova district, and detained in the local police directorate.

Mustafa Sutlas, Ismail Agan, Mehmet Ali Celebi and Osman Zorba are facing lawsuits on terrorist propaganda charges because of their work in Tukenmez magazine, an outlet that often writes about Kurdish issues. The prosecutor accused the journalists of praising the PKK and KCK organizations funded by the Kurdish Workers’ Party in their stories.

On 7 August, Kurdish television station Med Nuce TV stated that the satellite through which it broadcasts its programming is facing severe signal attacks, and that this is a part of the growing state persecution against media.

Journalists Hasan Akbas, Serpil Berk, Firat Topal and Serbest Sertac Kayar were arrested on 10 August while covering a car blast in the city of Diyarbakir.

‘SEEMO is deeply troubled by the current state of media freedom and the curbing of free expression rights in Turkey,’ said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. ‘We stand in solidarity with journalists and media workers in Turkey and the international community to condemn the repressive atmosphere that has taken hold since the failed coup in July.’

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.