04/08/2016: TURKEY – SEEMO CONCERNED BY GROWING NUMBER OF JOURNALISTS ARRESTED IN TURKEY

Vienna, 04/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed concern regarding media freedom violations that have followed the failed coup attempt in Turkey on 15 July.

Arrest warrants were issued against twelve former daily Zaman newspaper journalists after the alleged coup. They were charged with involvement in the overthrow and its alleged instigator Fetullah Gulen. After Zaman was closed due to the investigation, 47 media workers employed had detention orders issued against them, on charges of being members of an armed terrorist organization.

Arrest warrants have been issued against the following journalists: Alaattin Güner, Şeref Yılmaz, Ahmet Metin Sekizkardeş, Faruk Akkan, Mehmet Özdemir, Fevzi Yazıcı, Zafer Özsoy, Cuma Kaya and Hakan Taşdelen on charges being a member of an ‘armed terrorist organization’, Hüseyin Turan and Murat Avcıoğlu on charges of ‘aiding a terrorist organization’ as non-members and Mümtazer Türköne, Zaman columnist, on charges of ‘serving the purposes of a Fethullahist terrorist organization’.

‘According to SEEMO sources, there are over 70 journalists in prison in Turkey right now’, SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said. ‘This number is dangerously high for any country, and signals a new low when it comes to democratic principles and freedom of expression in the country. We call on institutions in Turkey to immediately release our colleagues, before this situation deteriorates further’.

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, 02/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemned the actions of the Turkish Presidency of Telecommunication and Communication (TIB), and called on the institution to their decisions which are harmful and put pressure on media in the country.

On 24 July, TIB blocked numerous Kurdish media outlets in the aftermath of the coup attempt and clashes that occurred in response to it. The first website to be blocked was the Jin News Agency (JINHA), which is also the first and only women’s news agency in Turkey. This was the sixth time the web portal has been blocked by TIB.

SEEMO fully supports all media workers within JINHA and calls on the Telecommunications and Communications Presidency to abandon all practices of blocking news websites in the country. Furthermore, SEEMO members ask that Turkish authorities release all detained journalists and end oppression against journalists and media outlets. Freedom of expression is crucial in transitional societies and must not suffer because of political interests.

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 Commissio.

Vienna, 27/07/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is concerned by the reaction of Turkish officials in Kosovo, in the aftermath of the coup attempt in Turkey on 15 July.

Berat Buzhala, prominent journalist and editor-in-chief of the news portal Express shared several status updates on his Facebook profile after this month’s political turmoil in Turkey. One of them was a satirical status saying that Kosovar tourists that were in the country at the time should support the army. An official letter was then sent by the Turkish Embassy in Kosovo to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking that Mr. Buzhala be arrested because of comments he wrote on his personal page.

The Turkish ambassador argued this claim by referring to a law amendment prohibiting any citizen of Kosovo from participating in conflicts within other countries. The law was initially created for Kosovars who wanted to join terrorist organisations in Syria.

‘SEEMO calls on Turkish institutions to respect the right of individuals to express their opinions in from of satiric and joke in Turkey and international’, 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, 25/07/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was appalled by arrest warrants issued by the Turkish Prosecutor for anti-terrorism against 42 journalists on July 25.

In the aftermath of the coup attempt which occurred on 15 July, media workers are being detained as part of an inquiry in the failed overthrow of the government. Several editor-in-chiefs and journalists have been accused of being involved in the overthrow, as well as for divulging terrorist propaganda.

The targeted journalists are:

Abdullah Abdulkadiroğlu
Abdullah Kılıç
Ahmet Dönmez
Ali Akkuş
Arda Akın
Nazlı Ilıcak
Bayram Kaya
Bilal Şahin
Bülent Ceyhan
Bülent Mumay
Bünyamin Köseli
Cemal Azmi Kalyoncu
Cevheri Güven
Cihan Acar
Cuma Ulus
Emre Soncan
Ercan Gün
Erkan Akkuş
Ertuğrul Erbaş
Fatih Akalan
Fatih Yağmur
Habip Güler
Hanım Büşra Erdal
Haşim Söylemez
Hüseyin Aydın
İbrahim Balta
Kamil Maman
Kerim Gün
Levent Kenez
Mahmut Hazar
Mehmet Gündem
Metin Yıkar
Muhammed Fatih Uğur
Mustafa Erkan Acar
Mürsel Genç
Selahattin Sevi
Seyid Kılıç
Turan Görüryılmaz
Ufuk Şanlı
Ufuk Emin Köroğlu
Yakup Sağlam
Yakup Çetin.
‘We were deeply distressed to hear the news of arrest warrants being issued against so many of our colleagues in Turkey. These senseless attempts of censorship and oppression against media workers must end immediately’, said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. ‘We call on authorities to end attempts to pressure and detain journalists’.

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, 23/07/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is saddened by the death of Ukrainian journalist Pavel Sheremet in Kiev.

The Belarusian journalist was killed in the early hours of 20 July, several dozen meters from his home, when a bomb exploded in the vehicle he was driving. The car belonged to Alena Prytula, the head of daily Ukrainska Pravda.

In 2010, Sheremet was deprived of Belarusian citizenship and had to obtain Russian citizenship. Prytula and Sheremet have voiced their concerns about being monitored several times in the previous years. He was a renowned journalist and a long-time contributor for several media outlets in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.

‘SEEMO is deeply shaken by the murder of Pavel Sheremet’, said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. ‘We call on authorities to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice. Each time a journalist is threatened, attacked or killed as a result of his or her work democracy is undermined and the path is opened for more violence’.

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, 23/07/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed grave concern regarding events that have taken place in Turkey following the failed coup attempt on July 15.

Since the attempt to overthrow the government, allegedly over 6,000 people have been arrested in the country, among them 42 journalists and media workers. Also, 31 academics have been taken into custody, and several hundred staff members from 24 universities have been suspended so far.

The Telecommunications Communication Presidency has suspended and banned several media outlets for their alleged ties to the coup instigators, among which are Mediascope, Gazeteport ABC Newspapers and Haberdar. Journalists and media workers are being accused of having ties with the coup instigators, as well as disseminating terrorist propaganda.

‘SEEMO members are deeply concerned for our colleagues in Turkey and the struggle they go through every day. We fear that this is only the beginning of more serious and more dangerous oppression against them, and hope that the international community will help us preserve and improve media rights in the country at this difficult time’, said SEEMO General Secretary 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, 22/07/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the harassment of Borka Rudic, journalist and head of The Association of BH Journalists.

A local politician, member of the Party of Democratic Action political party ( SDA) allegedly made comments about Borka Rudic on his Facebook profile on 19 July. After talking about the failed coup attempt in Turkey, the politician harassed Rudic, which provoked a series of accusations against her, among them that she is a lobbyist for Fethullah Gulen, who is said to be behind the overthrow attempt. Rudic was also called a supporter of Gulen’s politics, and a supporter of Chetniks, a WWII army movement in Serbia.

‘SEEMO stands in solidarity with Borka Rudic and condemns the online harassment campaign initiated by a public official,’ 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, 21/07/2016

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the killing of Andrei Nazarenko, cameraman for Russian state television, in his Moscow home.

Nazarenko, who worked for the TV channel Rossiya-1/Rossiya-24, was found shot to death in his apartment,

‘SEEMO is deeply saddened by the passing of Andrei Nazarenko, and calls on authorities in Russia to investigate the circumstances of his death.’, said SEEMO General Secretary 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, 19/07/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is deeply concerned by recent developments in Turkey.

Yeni Safak daily photojournalist Mustafa Cambaz was killed by soldiers while covering the coup attempt on 15 July. Soldiers had also taken over the public broadcaster TRT, and news host Tijen Karas was forced to read a statement on TV at gunpoint. Soldiers also took over some private media outlets for several hours.

Selcuk Samiloglu, a photojournalist from daily Hürriyet, was beaten while reporting in Istanbul during the coup attempt. The attack happened on Istanbul’s Bosporus Bridge after he made a photo of people who kick and beat a arrested Turkish soldier that participated in the attempted coup.

SEEMO is also alarmed by government decisions made after the coup attempt. According to information received by SEEMO, on 19 July the government revoked the licenses of 25 media companies. Additionally, during recent days the authorities blocked access to numerous websites and also the cancelled the state press cards of numerous of journalists.

‘These recent developments amount to a very serious attack on democracy and the rule of law in Turkey,’ said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. ‘SEEMO is very concerned by the political situation in Turkey right now and its implications for media freedom’.

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.

SEEMO condemns this decision by the authorities in Baku.

Vienna, 17/07/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) called on authorities to investigate the recent intimidation and threats made against KRIK (Crime and Corruption Reporting Network) in Serbia.

SEEMO was informed that journalist Dragana Peco and KRIK’s editorial office received verbal threats. These new threats come after several months of insulting campaigning conducted by several pro-governmental media outlets and individuals. Additionally, KRIK was attacked over social media many times in recent months.

According to KRIK, two individuals sent threatening messages via Twitter to journalists after KRIK published investigations that revealed the assets of several government officials. KRIK managed to identify one of the individuals who sent threats, and forwarded the information to Serbian state prosecutors. The account of the other person, whose identity is unknown, goes by screen name ‘Petar Pan’.

‘We fully support all KRIK staff and the platform itself, which makes a valuable contribution to strengthening democracy in Serbia by reporting on vital issues that are in the public interest. Intimidation and threats against journalists are never acceptable.’ 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.