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OSCE: JAILING OF JOURNALISTS HAS 'CHILLING EFFECT' ON TURKISH MEDIA
June 13, 2013 - 14:22 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The imprisonment of journalists is having a "chilling
effect" on Turkey's media, which exercised self-censorship during this
month's anti-government protests, Europe's main rights and democracy
watchdog said, according to Reuters.
Dunja Mijatovic, representative for media freedom at the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said 67 journalists
were behind bars in Turkey - the largest number among the body's 57
member states.
Even though it was a decline compared with the OSCE survey last year,
when it said 95 journalists were in prison, Mijatovic made clear
the underlying situation facing newspapers and broadcasters had
not improved.
"I simply cannot understand how come so many journalists in Turkey
are potential terrorists," she told Reuters, referring to the
anti-terrorism legislation under which many are held.
Freedom of media and expression in the country is "not only under
threat, it is damaged already," Mijatovic said in comments that were
cleared for publication on Thursday, when her office presented its
latest report on its activities in the OSCE area.
She also painted a generally gloomy picture about the situation
elsewhere in a geographical area that stretches from Vancouver in
the west to Vladivostok in the east.
"There are no attempts to ease (pressure) on the internet or introduce
legislation that can foster free expression. On the contrary," she
said. "What I see is that freedom is in danger."
Mijatovic singled out countries including Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Russia, central Asian and Balkan states. She also expressed concern
about developments in the United States, where phone records of the
Associated Press news agency were seized, and Britain, where political
parties have agreed a new system to regulate the media.
Mijatovic said Turkish media in general during the unrest "did not
report and were showing the society a completely different picture",
and that there was huge self-censorship.
"It is probably the intimidation that built over the years, the
chilling effect of knowing that you can end up in prison overnight
and be detained or accused," she said.
June 13, 2013 - 14:22 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The imprisonment of journalists is having a "chilling
effect" on Turkey's media, which exercised self-censorship during this
month's anti-government protests, Europe's main rights and democracy
watchdog said, according to Reuters.
Dunja Mijatovic, representative for media freedom at the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said 67 journalists
were behind bars in Turkey - the largest number among the body's 57
member states.
Even though it was a decline compared with the OSCE survey last year,
when it said 95 journalists were in prison, Mijatovic made clear
the underlying situation facing newspapers and broadcasters had
not improved.
"I simply cannot understand how come so many journalists in Turkey
are potential terrorists," she told Reuters, referring to the
anti-terrorism legislation under which many are held.
Freedom of media and expression in the country is "not only under
threat, it is damaged already," Mijatovic said in comments that were
cleared for publication on Thursday, when her office presented its
latest report on its activities in the OSCE area.
She also painted a generally gloomy picture about the situation
elsewhere in a geographical area that stretches from Vancouver in
the west to Vladivostok in the east.
"There are no attempts to ease (pressure) on the internet or introduce
legislation that can foster free expression. On the contrary," she
said. "What I see is that freedom is in danger."
Mijatovic singled out countries including Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Russia, central Asian and Balkan states. She also expressed concern
about developments in the United States, where phone records of the
Associated Press news agency were seized, and Britain, where political
parties have agreed a new system to regulate the media.
Mijatovic said Turkish media in general during the unrest "did not
report and were showing the society a completely different picture",
and that there was huge self-censorship.
"It is probably the intimidation that built over the years, the
chilling effect of knowing that you can end up in prison overnight
and be detained or accused," she said.