Vienna, 26/08/2017
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed concern after it was revealed on 25 August that the Turkish Council of Ministers adopted two new statutory decrees (693 and 694) as part of the State of Emergency (OHAL).
Three media outlets, including the only remaining Kurdish-language daily in Turkey, were accused of being “engaged in activities against security of the country” and were subsequently closed. Rojeva Medya, along with the Sujin women’s news portal and DICLE Media News Agency, were shut down and all assets previously belonging to the closed media outlets will be taken by the Treasury.
Along with the closure of three outlets, 928 civil servants, which included 128 academics, were discharged according to the statutory decree no. 693.
SEEMO expressed deep concern following these new steps which further limit media freedom and press rights in Turkey.
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.