Vienna, 30/09/2016
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemned today new steps against media in Turkey.
In the aftermath of the failed military coup on 15 July in Turkey, authorities in the country have been employing the Cabinet Decree 668, which allows them to close any media outlet and confiscate any materials they find to be threatening on the grounds of “national security”.
As result in the past several days at least 20 television and radio stations were closed. In Istanbul Denge TV, IMC TV, Govend TV, Azadi TV, Van TV, Hayatın Sesi, Jiyan TV, and Zarok TV are no longer aired. Also TV 10, voice of the Turkish Alevi community was closed. This TV channels were also removed from the national satellite platform TÜRKSAT without any explanation The Istanbul based Yön Radio, Adana based Radio Dünya and Mersin based SES Radio are not more operating. Some days ago also radio and TV channels in the Uşak area, ART TV, ART Radio, and Radio Klas, were closed.
According to the Journalists Association of Turkey since 15 July 660 official press cards have been cancelled by the authorities, over 100 journalists have been jailed and around 2500 lost their jobs.
“We find that this administrative decision affects the media atmosphere in Turkey severely, and call on authorities to revoke the order immediately” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General said today.
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.