Page 478 - 2014-2016 Çalışma Raporu

05 .09.20l 5
Presidency of Diyarbakır Bar Association
press statement
Major threat to press freedom in Turkey

The pressure including physical attack to the press and media organs which have a criti_
cal standing against policies and practices ofthe political power in Turkey has reached
to dangerous dimensions.
Almost for two months now, the access to the websites of many media organs including
Dicle News Agency and Özgür Gündem newspaper which broadcast in Turkey has been
banned. Currently there is no access in Turkey to the web pages of dozens of media
organs broadcasting either from Turkey or abroad.

It also should be underlined that heavy pressures like raiding the media centres, investi-
gatİng and even arresting its members continue to be implemented against Samanyolu
TV and Zaman newspaper and other pro-opposition media organs under the name of
"Paral lel State Investi gation".
On the other hand, direct or indirect pressures have been implemented to the television
channels and newspapers of Doğan Media Group. Recently the building of Hürriyet
newspaper was attacked by members of the ruling political party and even lives of di-
rectors and workers ofthis newspaper have been threatened.
Lastly at the night of day before yesterday (on |3109120|5) Nokta magazine, one of the
oldest political magazine of Turkey was raided due to an article about President of Re-
public Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the latest edition of Nokta Magazine was banned
from being distributed and editorial manager of the magazine has been taken into cus-
tody.
Press and media freedom is the most fundamental value of democracy and it accomplis_
hes the freedom ofexpression. It provides the vital function for freedom ofinformation,
monitoring the public and public authorities. In a country without press freedom it
would be difficuIt to the unfair and arbi ices ofthe authorities. It

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