24 August 2019: Moscow protests: Free press groups call on police to stop targeting journalists

December 30, 2020 • • disabled comments

As well as facing arrest, journalists have been brutally assaulted by police and have suffered broken noses, hand injuries and beatings inside police vans.

This statement was originally published on europeanjournalists.org on 22 August 2019.

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and a coalition of seven media freedom and journalists’ organisations are calling on Russian authorities to immediately stop the harassment of journalists who have been covering the recent protests in Moscow.

Since the electoral authorities rejected several opposition candidates for September’s city council elections, protesters have taken to the streets of Moscow on four consecutive Saturdays. Russian authorities have responded with threats, violence, and detentions.

Journalists who have been reporting on the protests have consistently been targeted. On 27 July 2019, two journalists suffered broken noses after being struck by police, one received injuries to his hands and head after being hit with a police baton, a fourth was beaten in a police van after his arrest, and a fifth received injuries from a police assault.

Police have detained dozens of reporting journalists in the last few weeks, even after they had shown their accreditation. On 3 August 2019, police detained at least fourteen journalists. One journalist was arrested even after police found his accreditation and editorial assignment when they searched him. He was released shortly afterwards, but subsequently re-arrested and taken to a police station. All eight journalists were released the same day without charge.

Several YouTube channels have been broadcasting the protests live, but on 11 August the Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor published a statement calling on YouTube to stop “advertising” the demonstrations (see EFJ press release). The regulator said that a failure to respond would be considered “interference in its sovereign affairs” and that Russia would have the right to retaliate.

Several media freedom and journalists’ organisations have filed two alerts with the Council of Europe’s Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists in relation to Russia’s response to the protests. No reply has so far been received from the Russian Federation.

Russia is not the only country where journalists are under threat in connection with protests. Index on Censorship’s 2018 report Targeting the messenger: Journalists on the frontline of protests highlighted the challenges in European countries.

Signatories
Index on Censorship
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
International Press Institute (IPI)
South East Europe Media Organisation
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
Russian Journalists’ and Media Workers’ Union (JMWU)

https://ifex.org/moscow-protests-free-press-groups-call-on-police-to-stop-targeting-journalists/

5 September 2019: Free expression groups call on HRC to hold Turkey to account over persecution of journalists

December 30, 2020 • • disabled comments

Ahead of the 42nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), IFEX members call on member and observer states to speak out against the ongoing crackdown on free expression in Turkey, where at least 138 journalists are currently in jail.

This statement was originally published on europeanjournalists.org on 5 September 2019.

The European and International Federation of Journalists (EFJ and IFJ) sent along with other journalists and human rights organisations a letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council member and observer states to raise the ongoing crisis for freedom of expression in Turkey. Read the letter below or click here to download the full letter in PDF.

Excellencies,

Ahead of the 42nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), we, the undersigned human rights and journalists’ organisations, call on your delegation to speak out and address the Turkish government’s repressive campaign against freedom of expression. The Council must not continue to ignore such a blatant violation of Turkey’s international human rights law obligations and commitments.

The situation for freedom of expression in Turkey is now critical, as outlined in a joint submission on freedom of expression to the UPR of Turkey by civil society. The right to hold and express dissenting opinions and to access information has been systematically undermined by the Turkish government in an intensive crackdown on journalists and independent media, academics, civil society, oppositional voices and the judiciary. Since 2016, the human rights situation in Turkey has steeply declined, facilitated by the misuse of sweeping emergency powers and the concentration of executive power. At the time of writing, at least 138 journalists and media workers are imprisoned, with hundreds more currently on trial facing lengthy sentences on manifestly unfounded terrorism charges. At least 170 media outlets have been closed down over claims they spread “terrorist propaganda”. Access to thousands of websites and platforms has been blocked after a government decree authorising removals and blockages of websites without judicial oversight.

This catalogue of human rights violations (see Appendix) is an affront not only to the Turkish Constitution and international obligations, but also flies in the face of the standards this Council has adopted, in particular on the Safety of Journalists (HRC Res 39/6) and on the Internet and Human Rights (HRC Res 38/7).

In a follow-up report to the HRC in June 2019, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression informed the Council that there had been a “lack of effective efforts by the State to implement the recommendations made” following his November 2016 country visit. In several areas, he found that the government was taking action “directly contrary” to the recommendations made. Ahead of Turkey’s upcoming Universal Periodic Review, the time to put the government on notice that it must change course, or face an intensification in international scrutiny is now.

All Member and Observer States committed to media freedom, democracy and the rule of law, must speak out during the Council’s 42nd Session.

Yours Sincerely,

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
ARTICLE 19
P24 Platform for Independent Journalism
International Press Institute (IPI)
PEN International
PEN Norway
Index on Censorship
Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI)
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
IFEX
German PEN
Swedish PEN
Danish PEN
English PEN
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom
Global Editors Network
Articolo 21

https://ifex.org/free-expression-groups-call-on-hrc-to-hold-turkey-to-account-over-persecution-of-journalists/

18 September 2019: Rights groups call on new Secretary General of the CoE to make press freedom a priority

December 30, 2020 • • disabled comments

The environment for media freedom has worsened significantly, with threats against journalists and press freedom increasing throughout Europe, and especially in such countries as Azerbaijan, Poland, Hungary, Italy, Turkey and Russia.

To: Marija Pejčinović Burić

Secretary-General

Council of Europe

– open letter –

18 September 2019

Dear Secretary-General,

On behalf of the undersigned organisations, we warmly congratulate you on your appointment as the new Secretary-General of the Council of Europe. We are motivated by our experience and understanding of the worsening of the environment for journalists and free expression across Europe to ask you to make sure that your commitment to democracy, the rule of law and human rights will be reflected in enhanced efforts for the effective protection of freedom of expression, press freedom and the safety of journalists, backed up by robust measures and strong and consistent statements and actions by yourself as Secretary-General.

Media freedom and media pluralism must be given a clear and consistent priority across the Council of Europe area, as they enable the public to make informed choices about their government and society, and are thus prerequisites for the full enjoyment of all other rights.

Renewed and determined efforts to achieve Member States’ compliance with the Council of Europe’s conventions, recommendations and other texts, as well as the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) are vital in these times of rising threats against journalists and press freedom throughout Europe. The environment for media freedom has worsened significantly, as was documented in the Annual Report published by the partner organisations of the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists. We see extremely worrying developments in Azerbaijan, Poland, Hungary, Italy, Turkey, Russia and elsewhere.

Regarding the Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists, we urge you to provide all necessary means and support available to ensure that Member States respond concretely to alerts, intensify the dialogue and follow-up moves to provide redress, and to do everything possible to gain the active cooperation of those Member States which have failed to reply to alerts that highlight shortcomings or abuses on the part of state authorities. We ask you to establish a monthly exchange at the level of the Committee of Ministers to allow for a meaningful discussion on the progress of Member States in dealing with the alerts and persistent and serious threats to media freedom and the safety of journalists and other media actors.

In view of the well-documented increase in attacks on the media and backsliding in some states’ fulfilment of their commitments, we request you to prioritise actions and policies to implement Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4 of the Committee of Ministers on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors – including specific measures to comply with Council of Europe standards on Protection; Prevention of attacks; and Prosecution of crimes against journalists.

We hope that the concerns and recommendations outlined in the Platform partners’ latest report will be given priority by the Secretariat under your leadership, and through the projects and activities foreseen in the bi-annual Council of Europe programme and budget. To address these concerns, we request you to make available the resources and support needed to give it greater visibility, recognition and impact – both internally and externally to the Council of Europe.

We are convinced that strong and concerted political action from Member States and the Council of Europe is now essential. We request your energetic support against the ongoing impunity for attacks including murders of journalists within Europe, and against widespread attempts to adopt severely restrictive legislation on media regulation, defamation, anti-terrorism that are increasingly used to criminalise journalists.

Anti-media rhetoric is creating a toxic atmosphere for journalists amongst the general public and must be countered. The spread of online disinformation intensifies this effect. We welcome the recent PACE resolution on the rule of law in Malta, which points to the urgent need for effective actions against the politicisation of state institutions, media capture by political forces, and a climate of impunity related to attacks against members of the media.

We call on you to provide your full political support, and necessary resources, to ensure the successful implementation of Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4, as is specified in the 2018 Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI) strategy 2018. It is especially important to us that robust and frank debate on the subject of implementation (including securing firm commitments to national action plans) takes place at the Conference of Ministers responsible for media and information society in Cyprus in May 2020, with the full participation of civil society to pave the way for meaningful actions to reverse the recent negative trends.

We call on you to use your influence on Member States to reform their domestic laws and practices so that they comply with their obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and CM Recommendation (2016)4, and do everything in your power to improve the safety of journalists through the establishment of effective safeguards.

We thank Thorbjørn Jagland for his efforts in the past years and we are happy to continue to support the Council of Europe with our research and our international networks.

We request a meeting with you soon to discuss these matters in person and to share our knowledge and experience with you as you begin your term of office.

We look forward to your positive response.

Yours sincerely,

Lutz Kinkel, Managing Director, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

Sarah Clarke, Head of Europe and Central Asia, ARTICLE 19

William Horsley, Special Representative for Media Freedom, Association of European Journalists (AEJ)

Gulnoza Said, Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

Daniel Gorman, Director, English PEN

Ricardo Gutiérrez, General Secretary, European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Leon Willems, Director of Policy and Programmes, Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

Ralf Nestmeyer, Vice-President, German PEN

Bertrand Pecquerie, CEO, Global Editors Network (GEN)

Annie Game, Executive Director, IFEX

Joy Hyvarinen, Head of Advocacy, Index on Censorship

Anthony Bellanger, General Secretary, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

Ravi R. Prasad, Director of Advocacy, International Press Institute (IPI)

Ides Debruyne, Managing Director, Journalismfund.eu vzw

Hege Newth, Secretary General, Norwegian PEN

Chiara Sighele, Programme Director, Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT/CCI)

Alberto Spampinato, Director, Ossigeno per l’informazione

Aaliya Ahmed, International Programmes Director, PEN International

Christophe Deloire, Secretary General, Reporters without Borders (RSF)

Oliver Vujovic, Secretary General, South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)

Clothilde Redfern, Director, The Rory Peck Trust

Andrew Heslop, Director, World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)

https://ifex.org/rights-groups-call-on-new-secretary-general-of-the-coe-to-make-press-freedom-a-priority/

10 October 2019: Turkey: Joint call for charges against Gezi Park defendants to be dropped

December 30, 2020 • • disabled comments

Following a court decision to continue the detention of civil society leader Osman Kavala, IFEX members and other rights groups call for the case against all 16 defendants to be dropped and for Kavala and human rights defender Yiğit Aksakoğlu to be compensated for the time they have spent in prison.

This statement was originally published on article19.org on 10 October 2019,

We, the undersigned freedom of expression and media freedom organisations, strongly condemn the court’s interim decision on the Gezi Park trial to continue the detention of civil society leading figure Osman Kavala at the end of the third hearing of the case, on 8 October 2019.

The judicial panel of the 30th High Criminal Court sitting at Silivri High Security Facility in Istanbul upheld the prosecutor’s request for the continuing detention of Kavala in Silivri. The next hearing was set for 24-25 December, 2019. We believe that the decision against Kavala’s release and the very continuation of this trial contravenes international human rights standards and is a clear demonstration of the lack of a functioning judicial system in Turkey.

We call for the case against all 16 defendants to be dropped and for Kavala and Aksakoğluto be compensated for the time they have spent in prison.

Doubts over the independence of the court panel was casted by many, including lawyer Can Atalay, defendant in this case. While giving oral evidence at court in his defense, Atalay commented that the changes in the judicial panel made by the Council of Judges and Prosecutors are indications of the lack of impartiality of the judiciary. As such, he argued that it was in contravention of Articles 36 (right to a Fair Trial) and 37 (right to a Natural Judge) of the Turkish Constitution, and in violation of the right to a fair trial as enshrined in Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Kjersti Løken Stavrum, President of Norwegian PEN said, “The lack of independence of the judicial panel has been proved beyond doubt today. In a case where there is neither evidence or cause to detain the defendant Kavala in prison for one more day, the decision was given for his continued detention. By the time of the next hearing in December, Kavala will have spent over two years in prison for no tangible legal reason. We call for the entire case to be dropped and for this surreal and illegal process to be brought to a close.”

“A decision on Kavala’s case remains pending before the European Court of Human Rights. Today’s proceedings underscore the disintegration of the rule of law and domestic remedy in Turkey, as the defendant – who has already spent over 700 days in detention – is ordered to remain in pre-trial detention on completely baseless charges. We urge the European Court of Human Rights to speedily rule in this case,” said Sarah Clarke, Head of Europe and Central Asia for ARTICLE 19.

We urge the Turkish Ministry of Justice to put an end to such practices where punishment is meted out ahead of possible conviction and to commit to the abolition of extended pretrial detention, as the Government outlined in the recent Judicial Reform Strategy, by immediately freeing Kavala.

We also call upon all diplomatic missions and all other international observers to attend the next hearing on 24-25 December 2019 to records the proceedings and show their continuing support for the defendants.

Signed by
ARTICLE 19
Articolo 21
Civic Space Studies Association
Danish PEN
ECPMF (European Centre for Press and Media Freedom)
English PEN
EFJ (European Federation of Journalists)
German PEN
GEN Global Editors Network
IFJ International Federation of Journalists
Norwegian PEN
OBCT (Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa)
P24 (Punto 24)
PEN America
PEN Canada
PEN International
SEEMO (South East Europe Media Organisation)
Swedish PEN
Wales PEN Cymru

https://ifex.org/turkey-joint-call-for-charges-against-gezi-park-defendants-to-be-dropped/

3 November 2019: Rights groups call for novelist Ahmet Altan, Nazlı Ilıcak and other journalists to be released

December 30, 2020 • • disabled comments

Altan, Ilıcak and others are being retried on bogus terrorism charges. The presiding judge is the same one who oversaw their first trial, which the Bar Human Rights Committee said “gave the appearance of a show trial”.

This statement was originally published on article19.org on 2 November 2019.

Ahead of the second hearing in the retrial of Turkish novelist Ahmet Altan, Nazlı Ilıcak and four other journalists and media workers, ARTICLE 19 and 16 free speech and human rights organisations call for all detained defendants to be released and for the charges to be dropped. We believe that the charges against Altan and the other defendants are politically motivated and the case should never have gone to trial. We believe that the new charges are also bogus, as no credible evidence has been presented linking the defendants to terrorism.

Altan and Ilıcak have been in pre-trial detention for over three years on bogus charges. They were initially charged with sedition and are now being re-tried on terrorism charges following a decision by the Supreme Court of Appeals. The final prosecutor’s opinion has been published ahead of the hearing on Monday 4 November, revealing that the prosecutor will ask for the judge to sentence significantly above the minimum required sentence for these offences. If the judge rules in line with the Prosecutor’s opinion, this will mean that the defendants will remain in detention during the appeals process which could take many more months. The on-going violation of their rights is a damning indictment of the state of Turkey’s judicial system, which has been placed under immense political pressure since the failed coup of July 2016.

We have serious concerns regarding the panel of judges overseeing this retrial. It will be presided over by the same judge who oversaw the first trial, which involved several violations of the right to a fair trial and according to the Bar Human Rights Committee, “gave the appearance of a show trial”. The same panel of judges also previously refused to implement the Constitutional Court and European Court of Human Rights rulings that Mehmet Altan’s rights had been violated by his pre-trial detention, sparking off a constitutional crisis.

With the Constitutional Court failing to find a violation in the case of Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak in May 2019, we look to the European Court of Human Rights (the Court) for justice. In 2018, the Court found several violations of Mehmet Altan’s rights. The Court also said that it would keep the effectiveness of remedies before the Constitutional Court under review. Altan and Ilıcak have now spent over three years in pre-trial detention. If the judge rules on Monday in line with the Prosecutor’s final opinion, they will be condemned to an even longer period of unjustified detention. By January 2020, their applications before the Strasbourg Court will have been pending for three years. A judgment from the European Court of Human Rights on their cases is now crucial.

Signatories
ARTICLE 19
Articolo 21
Danish PEN
English PEN
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
Freedom House
German PEN
Global Editors Network (GEN)
IFEX
Index on Censorship
Norwegian PEN
P24 – Platform for Independent Journalism
PEN America
PEN Canada
PEN International
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
Swedish PEN

About the case

The retrial in the case of writers and media workers Ahmet Altan, Mehmet Altan, Nazlı Ilıcak, Yakup Şimşek, Fevzi Yazıcı and Şükrü Tuğrul Özşengül began on 8 October 2019, after the Supreme Court of Appeals overturned their convictions of “attempting to overthrow the constitutional order through violence and force” under Article 309 of the Turkish Penal Code, for which they had been given aggravated life sentences. The Supreme Court of Appeals found that there had been no evidence of their use of “violence and force” and that Mehmet Altan should be acquitted entirely due to lack of sufficient evidence. The charges for the other five defendants were reduced: Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak face new charges of “aiding a terrorist organisation” while Yakup Şimşek, Fevzi Yazıcı, Şükrü Tuğrul Özşengül face charges of “membership in a terrorist organisation”. Their re-trial, on new charges, began in October 2019 and the second hearing, at which the judge may rule on the case is on 4 November 2019.

More detailed information on these cases and the retrial can be found here.

ARTICLE 19 submitted an expert opinion to the court in June 2018.

Freedom of expression in Turkey

Under President Erdogan’s rule, freedom of expression has severely declined in Turkey. Over the last four years at least 3,673 judges and prosecutors have been dismissed and the judiciary effectively purged of anyone who is perceived as opposing the government through the exercise of freedom of expression. Around 170 media outlets have been closed down over claims they spread “terrorist propaganda”. Only 21 of these have been able to reopen, some of them however being subject to major changes in their management boards. Turkey has become the world’s biggest jailor of journalists with at least 121 journalists and media workers currently in prison and hundreds more on trial.

For more information on freedom of expression in Turkey, please see our joint NGO submission for Turkey’s Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations.

https://ifex.org/rights-groups-call-for-novelist-ahmet-altan-nazli-ilicak-and-other-journalists-to-be-released/

13 November 2019: ‘Terrorist propaganda’ charges against Fikret Başkaya must be dismissed

December 30, 2020 • • disabled comments

Fikret Başkaya, writer and academic, photo courtesy of the Initiative for Freedom of Expression – Turkey.

‘Terrorist propaganda’ charges against Fikret Başkaya must be dismissed

Rights groups are calling on Turkey to drop unjustified charges against writer Fikret Başkaya and others accused of ‘terrorist propaganda’ for peaceful expression of opinion.

To:
His Excellency R. T. Erdogan
President of the Republic of Turkey
The Presidential Complex of Republic of Turkey
Gazi, Cumhurbaşkanlığı Blv.
06560 Yenimahalle/Ankara

Dear Mr President,

The undersigned freedom of expression and human rights organizations worldwide are writing to you to call for the dismissal of charges against Turkish academic co-founder and president of Free University and writer Fikret Başkaya, and an end to similar unjustified charges against other Turkish citizens.

While your government declared an end to Turkey’s state of emergency last year, by independent estimates over 130 journalists and writers remain in prison in Turkey, while hundreds more are currently being tried on charges of ‘terrorist propaganda’ for what by international standards would be considered simple expression of their views.

Fikret Başkaya is among them. His next and perhaps last hearing is scheduled to take place at Ankara’s 21st Heavy Criminal Court on November 22, 2019. He is facing charges of ‘terrorist propaganda’ for a single critical article published in November 2016, and now faces imprisonment of up to five years.

As you know, Turkey signed the UN Declaration of Human Rights and ratified the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights, in which article 19 guarantees the right to freedom of expression. Turkey is also a party to the the European Convention on Human Rights, whose article 10 similarly guarantees that right. Article 90 of Turkey’s Constitution affirms that such instruments duly ratified carry the force of law in Turkey. While these articles make allowances for limitations of that right in narrow circumstances, peaceful criticism of state policies, even harshly or offensively worded, cannot reasonably be said to meet these criteria, and is a normal and vital part of social debate in free and democratic societies.

Ending Fikret Başkaya’s prosecution and similar procedures against academics and writers as well as bringing anti-terrorism and defamation laws in line with international standards would be an important signal that Turkey takes these obligations seriously, and help to normalize its relationship with other Member States.

Initiative for Freedom of Expression – Turkey
Adil Soz – International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech
Albanian Media Institute
Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI)
Freedom Forum
Free Media Movement
Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI)
Fundamedios – Andean Foundation for Media Observation and Study
Independent Journalism Center (IJC)
International Press Centre (IPC)
Mediacentar Sarajevo
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
Media Watch
PEN Norway
PEN America
PEN International
Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM)
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
Vigilance for Democracy and the Civic State
Danish PEN
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom
Dr. Baskin Oran, Professor Emeritus of International Relations, Ankara University

https://ifex.org/terrorist-propaganda-charges-against-fikret-baskaya-must-be-dismissed/

9 December 2019: Albanian authorities pursue highly problematic media laws despite public outcry

December 30, 2020 • • disabled comments

If new draft laws enter into force, they will introduce mandatory registration for online media and create a body with the power to fine, shut down and block sites and platforms – all without a court order. Online media will be regulated by the state.

This statement was originally published on rsf.org on 9 December 2019.

We, the undersigned organisations, reiterate our call on the Albanian parliament not to approve the draft media laws known as the “defamation package.” Should the draft laws enter into force, they would introduce mandatory registration requirements for online media and create an administrative body with the power to fine, shut down online media and block foreign online media – all without a court order. They would also introduce state regulation of online media, which is contrary to international best practice guidelines on self-regulation.

We note that the proposals are not in line with best practices on self-regulation and would have an adverse impact on freedom of expression in Albania. This comes as Albania is set to take the Presidency of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in January 2020.

The Albanian Parliament has initiated ‘public consultations’ of the draft media laws. The first of these meetings took place on 25 November amid strong opposition from national and international press and media freedom community. The next ‘public consultation’ hearings will take place on 11 and 12 December 2019 in Tirana. The draft media laws are expected to be approved by the parliament on 19 December 2019.

There is widespread concern over the persistence of the government and parliament to pursue these draft laws as they signal a turn for the worst for Albania’s press freedom climate. Albania has clear obligations and duties under the European Convention on Human Rights and the OSCE, the Presidency of which it is due to assume in January 2020. Should these laws be passed, it would be particularly problematic for Albania to assume this role.

On 3 July 2019, the Albanian Government’s Council of Ministers approved a series of amendments known as the “anti-defamation package,” which include amendments to law Nr.97/2013 “On Audio Visual Media in the Republic of Albania” and law Nr.9918 “On Electronic Communications in the Republic of Albania.”

During our advocacy mission in Tirana, conducted from 18 to 21 June 2019, which included, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), ARTICLE 19, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the International Press Institute (IPI), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), we warned of the deteriorating press freedom climate in Albania.

We raised our serious concerns about the proposed legislation during our meeting with Prime Minister Edi Rama, urging that the amendments be brought in line with international standards. In July, we called on the Albanian Government to withdraw these two bills and urged the parliament not to approve them.

We are therefore, dismayed that the Albanian parliament has put forward these draft laws without fully addressing suggestions provided by local actors and international institutions. The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media published today, 9 December, its latest legal analysis of the draft laws, calling for further improvements to ensure “safeguards to freedom of expression and avoid any risk of undue restrictions or sanctions on electronic media providers.”

We call on the Albanian parliament to drop their dogged pursuance of these draft laws and restart the process. The parliament should also make use of the assistance mechanisms available through the Council of Europe office in Tirana and the European Union, in order to come up with laws that are in line with best practice press freedom standards.

Signed

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
ARTICLE 19
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
International Press Institute (IPI)
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
The Rory Peck Trust (RPT)

https://ifex.org/albanian-authorities-pursue-highly-problematic-media-laws-despite-public-outcry/

https://ipi.media/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Hungary-Conclusions-International-Mission-Final.pdf

17 January 2020: Impunity must not be allowed to gain a foothold in Slovakia

December 30, 2020 • • disabled comments

Press groups welcome the start of the trial of those accused in connection with the murder of Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírova; they call on the authorities to introduce effective measures to prevent violence against journalists in the future.

This statement was originally published on europeanjournalists.org on 17 January 2020.

The undersigned international and regional press freedom and journalism groups welcome the start of the murder trial this week against the suspected killers of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírova.

The suspects on trial at the Specialized Criminal Court in Pezinok, Slovakia, include the alleged mastermind, Slovak businessman Marian Kočner, who prosecutors say ordered Kuciak’s murder in retaliation for his journalistic work. A confidante of Kočner’s, Alena Zsuzsová, is charged with having arranged the murder via a middleman, Zoltán Andruskó, who in turn contracted two alleged hitmen, cousins Tomáš Szabó and Miroslav Marček.

Andruskó previously admitted guilt to prosecutors and was sentenced to 15 years in prison in December. He testified in court on Tuesday against Kočner and Zsuzsová, stating that Zsuzsová provided him with a detailed surveillance file on Kuciak on Kočner‘s behalf and asked for the journalist to be killed and his body disposed of without a trace.

Kuciak and Kušnírová were murdered in their home in Veľká Mača on February 21, 2018. Marček pled guilty on Monday, describing to the court how he knocked on Kuciak’s door, shot the journalist in the chest, and then followed Kušnírová into the kitchen and shot her in the head.

The murders rocked Slovak society, prompting the largest protests since the Velvet Revolution.

The undersigned organizations believe that the start of the trial marks an important step toward securing justice for Ján and Martina and for their families, who have suffered a deep and irreplaceable loss. We stand in solidarity with them.

The killing of two people to prevent the release of news is an abhorrent and unacceptable act. It is imperative that all of those who played a role in this crime receive just punishment. The Slovak justice system must ensure that impunity is not allowed to gain any foothold and must demonstrate that no one is above the law.

We also underscore the need for action beyond this criminal trial. The Slovak authorities must investigate and take steps to counteract the conditions that allowed for this murder to take place and introduce effective measures to prevent violence against journalists in the future. The authorities must also fully investigate all attacks on the press, including the mass, unlawful surveillance of numerous journalists allegedly conducted at the behest of Kočner.

All of the undersigned groups will be closely following developments in the proceedings, a reflection of the great international interest in ensuring justice in this case. Representatives of the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) are also attending the trial as observers.

Signed:

ARTICLE 19
Articolo 21
Committee to Protect Journalists
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
International Press Institute (IPI)
PEN International
Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
ARTICLE 19
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
International Press Institute (IPI)
PEN International
South East Europe Media Organisation
Articolo 21
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa

https://ifex.org/impunity-must-not-be-allowed-to-gain-a-foothold-in-slovakia/

16 March 2020: Global call to lift advertising ban on Turkish newspaper ‘Evrensel’

December 30, 2020 • • disabled comments

Twenty four press freedom groups call for the immediate end to the public advertising ban imposed on the independent newspaper ‘Evrensel’. Should the ban last six months, ‘Evrensel’ faces being removed from the system for at least three years.

This statement was originally published on pen-international.org on 16 March 2020.

In a letter addressed to Basın İlan Kurumu, the authority responsible for the distribution of state advertising in Turkey, PEN International and 23 press freedom and freedom of expression groups are calling for the immediate end to the public advertising ban that has been imposed on the independent newspaper ‘Evrensel’ since September 2019. Should the ban last for a full six months, ‘Evrensel ‘faces being removed from the system for at least three years, which would be catastrophic for its financial stability.

Rıdvan Duran,
General Director, Basın İlan Kurumu (BIK)
Merkez Efendi Mah. Mevlana Cad. No: 140/A
Toya Plaza Kat: 5 Zeytinburnu / İSTANBUL

March 16, 2020

Dear Mr. Duran,

On behalf of the 24 international and local press freedom organisations and signatories to this letter, we are writing to ask that Basın İlan Kurumu (BIK) swiftly lift the advertising ban currently imposed on the newspaper Evrensel.

Evrensel has been under an advertising ban since September 2019, and if the ban remains in place for a full six months, until March 28, 2020, Evrensel faces being removed from the public advertising system for at least three years.

Such a decision would have a devastating impact on the finances of the newspaper, threatening its closure and weakening the diversity and pluralism of Turkey’s newspaper market.

In February you met with representatives of the International Press Institute (IPI), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Journalists Syndicate of Turkey (TGS), Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and assured them that the ban would be lifted as soon as Evrensel made the necessary changes to their distribution system so as not to fall foul of the bulk buying rules.

Evrensel have since made the changes requested of them, but have three times had their appeals refused after new audits conducted by BIK.

BIK was given a crucial democratic role when it was established in 1961 to provide support to the country’s newspaper sector through the even distribution of public advertising funds. The system has become essential to the survival of many newspapers as the economic pressures on the print industry have grown over the past decade.

BIK’s role is therefore vital to ensure the health, diversity and plurality of Turkey’s newspaper sector. Central to that is, of course, its policy to provide support regardless of a newspaper’s editorial line. Evrensel is known for its independent reporting and has, in recent years, been targeted for judicial harassment as a consequence.

In addition to the indefinite ban, since September BIK has also issued three other limited bans on Evrensel for alleged ‘press ethics violations’. Further penalties would strongly suggest that BIK is being used to punish Evrensel for its independent reporting.

We urge you, therefore, to make good on your promise and to ensure the prompt lifting of the ban on Evrensel prior to the end of the six-month deadline.

We also take this opportunity to urge BIK to start publishing annual reports on the distribution of its funds that we understand amount to 450 million Turkish Lira of public funds and on the different disciplinary measures taken against newspapers. Providing transparency on BIK’s use of public funds would enable the public to verify that its money is used correctly and is consistent with the principles of supporting a pluralistic and democratic media environment.

Kind regards,

Signatories:

Article 19
Articolo 21
Association of European Journalists (AEJ)
Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI)
Civic Space Studies Association – Turkey / Sivil Alan Araştırmaları Derneği
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Danish PEN
English PEN
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
German PEN
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
International Press Institute (IPI)
Journalists Union of Turkey
Norwegian PEN
Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
PEN America
PEN International
Platform 24
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
Swedish PEN
World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)

https://ifex.org/global-call-to-lift-advertising-ban-on-turkish-newspaper-evrensel/

30 March 2020: COVID-19: Rights groups call on Turkey to release imprisoned journalists and human rights defenders

December 30, 2020 • • disabled comments

While news that the Turkish government is preparing a draft law to release up to 100,000 prisoners is welcome, the package of measures does not include journalists, human rights defenders and others imprisoned for simply exercising their rights.

This statement was originally published on article19.org on 27 March 2020.

Amid growing concerns over the spread of COVID-19 in prisons, the Turkish government is accelerating the preparation of a draft law that will reportedly release up to 100,000 prisoners. This is a welcome step. Overcrowding and unsanitary facilities already pose a serious health threat to Turkey’s prison population of nearly 300,000 prisoners and about tens of thousands of prison staff. That will only be exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. However, we remain concerned that journalists, human rights defenders and others imprisoned for simply exercising their rights, and others who should be released, will remain behind bars in the package of measures as currently conceived by the government.

The undersigned organisations call on the Turkish authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalists, human rights defenders and others who have been charged or convicted simply for exercising their rights. Additionally we believe that the Turkish authorities should re-examine the cases of all prisoners in pre-trial detention with a view to releasing them. According to international human rights law and standards, there is a presumption of release pending trial, in accordance with the presumption of innocence and right to liberty. Pre-trial detention should only be used as an exceptional measure, yet it is applied routinely and punitively in Turkey.

The government should also seriously consider releasing prisoners who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, such as older prisoners and those with serious medical conditions. The authorities should ensure that all prisoners have prompt access to medical attention and health care to the same standards that are available in the community, including when it comes to testing, prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Prison staff and health care workers should have access to adequate information, equipment, training and support to protect themselves.

Under the current Law on the Execution of Sentences and Security Measures, prisoners are eligible for parole after they have served two thirds of their sentence. The draft law that is expected to be passed in Parliament within days reportedly makes prisoners eligible for parole after they have served half of their sentence.

Under the new law, pregnant women and prisoners over 60 with documented health issues will be placed under house arrest. Individuals convicted of a small number of crimes, including on terrorism-related charges, will not be eligible for reduced sentences. The draft law does not apply to those held in pre-trial detention or whose conviction is under appeal. The measure is expected to be introduced as the third reform package under the government’s Judicial Reform Strategy revealed last summer.

In Turkey, anti-terrorism legislation is vague and widely abused in trumped up cases against journalists, opposition political activists, lawyers, human rights defenders and others expressing dissenting opinions. As we have documented in the large number of trials we have monitored, many are held in lengthy pre-trial detention and many are convicted of terrorism-related crimes simply for expressing dissenting opinions, without evidence that they ever incited or resorted to violence, or assisted illegal organisations.

This includes high profile journalist and novelist Ahmet Altan, Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtaş, and businessman and civil society figure Osman Kavala, in addition to many more academics, rights defenders and journalists. Demirtaş has previously reported heart-related health problems in prison, and both Altan and Kavala are over 60 years old meaning they could be at increased risk from COVID-19. These people should not be detained at all, and excluding them from release would only compound the serious violations they have already suffered.

We, the undersigned, call on the government and Parliament to respect the principle of non-discrimination in the measures taken to lessen the grave health risk in prisons. The effect of the draft law is to exclude certain prisoners from release on the basis of their political views. Thousands of people are behind bars for simply exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Now they are also faced with an unprecedented risk to their health. According to its commitments under international human rights law, Turkey is under a clear obligation to take necessary measures to ensure the right to health of all prisoners without discrimination.

We invite Turkish authorities to use this opportunity to immediately release unjustly imprisoned people, and give urgent consideration to the release of those who have not been convicted of any offence and those who are at particular risk in prison from a rapidly spreading disease in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions where their health cannot be guaranteed.

Read this statement in Turkish.

Signatories

ARTICLE 19
Punto24, Platform for Independent Journalism
Amnesty International
ARTICOLO 21
Association of European Journalists (AEJ)
Cartoonists’ Rights Network International (CRNI)
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Danish PEN
English PEN
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
Freedom House
Frontline Defenders
German PEN
Index on Censorship
Initiative for Free Expression – Turkey (IFoX)
International Press Institute (IPI)
IPS Communication Foundation/bianet
IFEX – the Global Network Defending and Promoting Free Expression
Norwegian PEN
Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
PEN Canada
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
Swedish PEN
Turkey Human Rights Litigation Support Project (TSLP)
WAN-IFRA/World Association of News Publishers

https://ifex.org/covid-19-rights-groups-call-on-turkey-to-release-imprisoned-journalists-and-human-rights-defenders/