The Vienna-based OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFOM) has stepped up pressure on Turkey to release all 95 journalists in jail, many of who have been detained for long periods awaiting trial. A new Report by the Representative issued on 2 April shows the number of journalists in Turkish jails increased by thirty-eight to a total of 95 from 57 a year ago. Turkey now detains more journalists than any other state in the world.
It faces rising international criticism over its use of anti-terrorism and other laws to imprison government critics and those who write about the Kurdish struggle for more civil and political rights. The AEJ, together with the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and other concerned organisations has called on Turkey to honour its important commitments to press freedom and other basic citizens’ rights guaranteed by the European Convention.
Read the new OSCE Report and list of imprisoned Turkish journalists here.