14.12.2023 – SEEMO Condemns Legal Action Against Journalist Sinan Aygül in Türkiye / Turkey

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expresses surprise over the legal proceedings initiated against journalist Sinan Aygül in Türkiye / Turkey. Aygül, who chairs the Bitlis Journalists’ Union, fell victim to a alleged physical attack on 17 June 2023 in Tatvan, Bitlis Province, Türkiye / Turkey.

In a distressing turn of events, Aygül, despite being the target of the assault, now faces charges of “insult” related to the assailants. One of the alleged attackers filed a complaint alleging that Aygül insulted him. The case will be tried through al procedure within the scope of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CMK) Article 251 and also the Article 58 of the Turkish Penal Code (Repeat Offending and Especially Dangerous Offenders) will be applied. The attackers were unexpectedly released after their arrest on 14 September 2023 on charges of “attempted murder” for the assault on Aygül.

This legal action against Aygül, a journalist known for consistently reporting on corruption allegations, is not only unjust but also threatens press freedom. The charges, if leading to a conviction, could result in a prison sentence of up to two years for Aygül.

SEEMO is monitoring this case. This incident underscores the importance of safeguarding journalists who, despite facing threats and physical harm, continue to fulfill their crucial role in society by uncovering and reporting on matters of public interest.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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In a distressing turn of events on Wednesday 6 December 2023, journalist İrfan Uçar was detained during a raid on his residence in Islahiye in Gaziantep /Antep, Türkiye / Turkey.

The allegations against Uçar, including “membership in an organization,” led to the confiscation of his documents, books, and a subsequent questioning about his professional activities.

Uçar, known for his past contributions to media outlets like now closed IMC TV and newspaper Özgür Gündem, had relocated to be with his family in the past one year. He has been a journalist since 1998. According to Uçar, during the police investigation, the police wanted to know more about his work, phone calls and some journalists he met in the past.

He was released on Thursday 7 December 2023, under judicial control with an international travel ban.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns the use of such measures and pressures against journalists, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding press freedom.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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In a concerning development, on 7 December 2023, former employees of the now-defunct Ranak (Ранак) media company in Svetlogorsk / Svetlahorsk / Svyetlahorsk (Светлагорск), Belarus, faced a renewed wave of detentions and interrogations. The company had previously been liquidated, and this recent series of events follows a pattern of escalating pressure on media professionals. Yulia Dauletava (Юлія Даўлетава), who was the editor of Ranak, and correspondent Lyudmila Andenka (Людміла Андэнка) were detained and taken to the temporary detention center in Zhlobin (Жлобин), Belarus. Yulia had previously been detained on 3 August 2023, accused of insulting a police officer online, an incident for which she was forced to publicly apologize. Both have covered protests in Belarus in 2020.

Ranak, a private media company, once a significant source of information in the Gomel / Homieĺ Region (Гомельская вобласць), faced challenges earlier in the year when eight staff members were arrested in June 2023. The detained employees were tried for distributing “extremist” materials. The media outlet, involved in TV and radio news production, publishing the Ranak-Plus newspaper, and advertising, subsequently ceased operations. The Ministry of Information blocked the media outlet’s website, and on 4 July 2023, the Chyhunachny District Court in Homel (Гомель), Belarus labeled the website and social media pages as “extremist materials.” The Ministry of Internal Affairs labeled the TV channel Ranak as an “extremist organization” on 5 September 2023.

The recent detentions come amid an ongoing crackdown on independent journalism in Belarus. The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), strongly condemns these actions, emphasizing the importance of a free and independent press. The authorities’ continued suppression of media outlets and journalists poses a severe threat to freedom of speech and the public’s right to information. SEEMO will closely monitor the situation, advocating for the release of detained journalists and urging respect for press freedom in the region.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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In a tumultuous turn of events, Cătălin Tolontan, born 1968, an investigative and sport journalist in Romania, has experienced his second dismissal within a span of two months. Also other journalists were fired.

Cătălin Tolontan was first fired in the sport newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor. He worked for this newspaper 20 years: 15 years as editor-in-chief and 5 years as editorial coordinator for Ringier’s Romanian newspapers. On 31 October 2023, the newspaper ceased publishing the print edition of Gazeta Sporturilor and became only an online publication.

Tolontan and other journalists from Libertatea and Gazeta Sporturilor, signed in October 2023 an open letter (Official appeal of 25 editorial and non-editorial leaders) about situation in the media company.

The problems escalated further on 6 December 2023, a date that press organizations dubbed “a black day for the press.” The owner of the daily Libertatea announced a series of changes. Print sales of Libertatea had witnessed a staggering drop of over 60% since 2018, prompting a strategic shift towards a heightened focus on digital platforms. This change in direction necessitated internal cost-cutting measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of the media company. As part of the restructuring, three individuals were dismissed. While specific names were not disclosed in the official communication, subsequent reports revealed that Cătălin Tolontan, along with his deputies were among those affected.

Tolontan had been a pivotal figure in the media landscape, having been declared Journalist of the Year in Romania several times, and his investigative reporting even inspired a documentary nominated for prestigious film awards. In 2009, Gazeta Sporturilor published its investigation about a politician accusing her of embezzlement. After this investigation the politician subsequently resigned from her position in a ministry, and later she was sentenced to five years in prison for misusing public funds. Tolontan coordinated also other investigations, including the investigations connected to the fire at the Colectiv nighclub in Bucharest in October 2015, killing 64 people. The majority of victims died according to the investigation contracting infections in hospital. Connected to this investigation Tolontan and other journalists from Gazeta Sporturilor received many threats.

The broader context of this media shake-up involves the ongoing debate over editorial independence and the evolving nature of journalism in the digital age. All changes happened before 2024 – election year in Romania when four elections will take place.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) closely follows the latest developments in the media landscape in Romania.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #journalistunderattack #romania #CătălinTolontan #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

On 22 November 2023, the former deputy editor-in-chief of the closed Zaman newspaper, Mehmet Kamış, was arrested in Izmir, Türkiye / Turkey, in a coordinated operation by the police and the National Intelligence Organization. Kamış is accused of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order and was subsequently moved to Istanbul, Türkiye / Turkey where he appeared before the 26th High Criminal Court. The court, citing a potential risk of flight, ordered his pretrial detention in connection with a ‘coup’ case initiated in 2017. The closure of Zaman newspaper in 2016, along with around 100 other media outlets due to alleged ties to the Fethullah Gülen movement, led to Kamış’s arrest. His trial is set for 13 February 2024. The case against Kamış has been separated from the larger ‘coup’ case involving 17 journalists, including Ahmet Altan, Mehmet Altan, and Nazlı Ilıcak.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns these actions, emphasizing the importance of protecting journalists’ rights and freedom of the press.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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Deutsche Welle (DW) Türkçe faced renewed access restrictions as a court in Ankara, Türkiye / Turkey implemented a ban upon the Radio and Television Supreme Council’s (RTÜK) request on 17 November 2022. DW Türkçe had previously evaded a ban by operating on alternative domain names ‘dwturkce.com’ and ‘inspiredminds.de,’ which are now also blocked in Türkiye / Turkey.

RTÜK demanded DW to obtain a broadcasting license for its new websites, granting the broadcaster a 72-hour window for application. Despite previous blocks and license disputes, DW Türkçe continued its operations through different domain names. The current ban is a additional case in the attacks by Turkish authorities on international broadcaster.

RTÜK (https://www.rtuk.gov.tr/), has blocked access to Deutsche Welle’s (DW) websites, including ‘dwturkce.com’ and ‘inspiredminds.de.’ This move comes after RTÜK’s demand for DW to acquire a broadcasting license for its online presence. DW Türkçe had already faced a block on 30 June, 2022, due to a lack of license application. The recent ban follows the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology’s decision not to renew DW Türkçe’s operational license, leading to the closure of its Türkiye / Turkey office.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns these actions, considering them a threat to media freedom.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #journalistunderattack #turkey #DW #DeutscheWelle #journalistattack #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) (https://www.rtuk.gov.tr/) has recently imposed administrative fines on four television channels, as disclosed by a RTÜK member on his social media account on 17 November 2023.

Tele 1 TV (https://tele1.com.tr/canli-yayin/) received three fines, equivalent to 3 percent of its advertising revenues, for statements made by Merdan Yanardağ and Emre Kongar on the program “18 Dakika.” Flash Haber (https://flashhabertv.com/) was fined 3 percent administratively for critical reports on retirement grants and salaries, along with an additional 3 percent for journalist Fatih Ertürk’s remarks on the retirement grant. KRT TV (https://www.krttv.com.tr/) faced two separate fines, each amounting to 3 percent of its ad revenues, for journalist Zafer Arapkirli’s comments on road and bridge toll increases and the Fidan-Blinken handshaking discussed on his show “Medya Terapi.” Halk TV (https://halktv.com.tr/) also incurred two 3 percent administrative fines, one for journalist Timur Soykan’s comments on the Sinan Ateş murder and another for journalist Bahadır Özgür’s remarks about ISIS.

A detailed analysis of fines issued by RTÜK over the past decade is available in a report published by journalist Hayri Demir (https://www.expressioninterrupted.com/rtuk-s-10-year-record-opposition-media-penalized/).

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns these penalties, viewing them as potential threats to media freedom.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #journalistunderattack #turkey #Tele1 #FlashHaber #FatihErtürk #KRTTV #HalkTV #journalistattack #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia #MerdanYanardağ #ZaferArapkirli #TimurSoykan #BahadırÖzgür @merdanyanardag @fatiherturk31 @timursoykan @ZaferArapkirli @bahadir_ozgr

Journalist Ayça Söylemez faced the 29th High Criminal Court in Istanbul, Türkiye / Turkey on 22 November 2023, for the initial hearing of her trial, charged with ‘marking a public official assigned with the fight against terrorism as a target’ under Article 6/1 of the Anti-Terror Law (TMK). The charges arose from Söylemez’s article, ‘Yetenekli Hakim Bey’ (The talented judge) (https://www.birgun.net/makale/yetenekli-hakim-bey-288416), published in BirGün (https://www.birgun.net/) newspaper on 18 February 2020.

The prosecutor, during the hearing, advocated for Söylemez’s guilt, prompting the court to postpone the trial until 19 March 2024.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expresses deep concern over the prosecution of Ayça Söylemez, emphasizing the importance of freedom of expression. SEEMO stands in solidarity with Ayça Söylemez, denouncing any attempts to stifle journalistic freedom. SEEMO urges respect for freedom of expression and calls for a thorough and unbiased examination of the case, emphasizing the crucial role journalists play in Turkey.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #journalistunderattack #turkey #birgun #AyçaSöylemez #journalistattack #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia @aycasoylemez

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expresses deep concern over a recent defamation ruling in North Macedonia.

According to a court decision the Investigative Reporting Laboratory – IRL (https://irl.mk), issued on 24 October 2023, IRL and its editor-in-chief, Sashka Cvetkovska, have to pay a symbolic 1 € in damages to businessman and also court costs.

The judge made a classification of IRL as a “non-media” entity and its staff as “members of a group,” instead of recognized as professional journalists. This questionable categorization implies that the platform operates illegally.

IRL plans to appeal this latest ruling to a higher court and intends to file a complaint with the constitutional court, citing a violation of the constitutional right to freedom of the press.

SEEMO is monitoring this case and supports IRL, Sashka Cvetkovska, and her team, condemning this ruling as a direct assault on investigative journalism and media freedom in North Macedonia. SEEMO underscores the need to overturn this decision promptly on appeal.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #journalistunderattack #northmacedonia #irl #journalistattack #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns the developments in Belarus.

After a threat of confiscation of the domain name by the Belarusian authorities, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) – Беларуская асацыяцыя журналістаў (БАЖ) had to be move from the domain baj.by to a new domain: baj.media. The new contact emails are: intercomm@baj.media and office@baj.media

In February 2023, the Belarusian Committee for State Security (KGB) unjustly classified BAJ as an ‘extremist organization,’ an unfounded allegation considering the organization’s enduring dedication to protect press freedom. Despite the withdrawal of its license on 27 August 2021, BAJ persists in its vital work while operating in exile.

SEEMO expresses deep concern over the ongoing repression faced by BAJ and other independent media outlets in Belarus. This targeted campaign undermines fundamental principles of press freedom and human rights. SEEMO calls on the Belarusian authorities to cease their attacks on independent journalism and human rights defenders, urging a return to respect for democratic values and the freedom of expression.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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