Joint statement from seventy organisations at UN meeting urges global pressure to restore press freedom in Turkey

The AEJ joined Article 19, PEN International and many other press freedom organisations from around the world in delivering a joint statement delivered at the current UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva. The Joint Oral Statement on the Deterioration of Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom in Turkey asked the international community to urge Turkey to end its emergency law limits on free speech before the April 16 referendum vote about sweeping changes to the Turkish constitution. The Joint Statement lists 68 signatories and three more organisations – Cambodian Center for Human Rights, Freedom Forum and Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance – later added signatures to make a total of 71 organisations’ names backing this urgent appeal.

JOINT ORAL STATEMENT ON THE DETERIORATION OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND MEDIA FREEDOM IN TURKEY

UN Human Rights Council 34th Special Session

Item 4: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention

15 March 2017

Mr President,

PEN International, ARTICLE 19 and 66 organisations are deeply concerned by the continuous deterioration of freedom of expression and media freedom in Turkey following the violent and contemptible coup attempt on 15 July 2016.

Over 180 news outlets have been shut down under laws passed by presidential decree following the imposition of a state of emergency. There are now at least 148 writers, journalists and media workers in prison, including Ahmet Şık,[1] Kadri Gürsel, Ahmet and Mehmet Altan, Ayşe Nazlı Ilıcak and İnan Kızılkaya, making Turkey the biggest jailer of journalists in the world. The Turkish authorities are abusing the state of emergency by severely restricting fundamental rights and freedoms, stifling criticism and limiting the diversity of views and opinions available in the public sphere.[2]

Restrictions have reached new heights in the lead up to a crucial referendum on constitutional reforms, which would significantly increase executive powers, set for 16 April 2017. The Turkish authorities’ campaign has been marred by threats, arrests and prosecutions of those who have voiced criticism of the proposed amendments. Several members of the opposition have been arrested on terror charges. Thousands of public employees, including hundreds of academics and opponents to the constitutional reforms, were dismissed in February. Outspoken “No” campaigners have been detained, adding to the overall climate of suspicion and fear. The rights to freedom of expression and information, essential to fair and free elections, are in jeopardy.

In the run-up to the referendum, the need for media pluralism is more important than ever. Voters have the right to be duly informed and to be provided with comprehensive information on all views, including dissenting voices, in sufficient time. The prevailing atmosphere should be one of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. There should be no fear of reprisals.

We urge this Council, its members and observer states, to call on the Turkish authorities to:

§ Guarantee equal broadcasting time for all parties and allow for the dissemination of all information to the maximum extent possible in order to ensure that voters are fully informed;

§ Put an end to the climate of suspicion and fear by:

o Immediately releasing all those held in prison for exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and expression;

o Ending the prosecutions and detention of journalists simply on the basis of the content of their journalism or alleged affiliations;

o Halting executive interference with independent news organisations including in relation to editorial decisions, dismissals of journalists and editors, pressure and intimidation against critical news outlets and journalists;

§ Revoke the excessively broad provisions under the state of emergency, the application of which, in practice, are incompatible with Turkey’s human rights obligations.

Thank you Mr. President